Novak Djoković

[Damian]

New Snail Species Named After Djokovic: 'I Always Tried To Be Fast!'

Spoiler:

The Serbian reacts to interesting animal news
Novak Djokovic is one of the best athletes in the world. If you had to compare him to an animal, the Serbian would be an apex predator because of his competitive ferocity and incredible athleticism.

Yet it was recently announced that of all animals, a new snail species, Travunijana djokovici, was named after Djokovic.

“I don't know how symbolic this is, because throughout my career I always tried to be fast and then a snail was named after me,” Djokovic said, cracking a laugh. “Maybe it's a message for me, telling me to slow down a bit!"

You May Also Like: Up Close & Personal With Novak Djokovic In Belgrade
According to Subterranean Biology, an international journal, the new species was discovered at the Vriješko Vrelo spring in Montenegro.

“The new species is named after Novak Djokovic, a famous Serbian tennis player, to acknowledge his inspiring enthusiasm and energy,” the journal stated.


Djokovic has never been shy about disclosing his affinity for nature. After winning the 2018 US Open, the Serbian credited his season turnaround to time spent on Montagne Sainte-Victoire in France.

Although it was a surprise to learn a snail species was named after him, Djokovic was intrigued.

"I am honoured that a new species of snail was named after me because I am a big fan of nature and ecosystems and I appreciate all kinds of animals and plants,” Djokovic said. “I try to live in harmony with nature. The news made me laugh.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/djokovi ... april-2021

[Damian]

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[Damian]

Djokovic Dispatches Kecmanovic In Belgrade

Spoiler:

The Serbian moves into the semi-finals
Novak Djokovic made quick work of Miomir Kecmanovic Friday at the Serbia Open with a 6-1, 6-3 win. The Serbian advances to the semi-finals of the ATP 250, as he seeks his third title at home.
The World No. 1 is playing in just his second event since winning the Australian Open. He opened his clay-court season last week in Monte-Carlo where he was upset by Daniel Evans. On Wednesday, he comfortably dispatched Soonwoo Kwon and was just as solid against Kecmanovic, taking charge of points early and coming to the net regularly.

How To Watch

It was the first meeting between the two compatriots with Djokovic in full command from first point to last. He broke the 21-year-old’s first service game and then established greater dominance by breaking him again to love for 5-1. The most competitive game was when Djokovic came through five Deuce points when he served for the first set

It was all smooth sailing until Djokovic went to serve for the match at 5-2, and got broken. The Serbian rebounded quickly, breaking right back to wrap up the win in one hour and 15 minutes.

He faces the winner of Aslan Karatsev and Gianluca Mager on Saturday.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/djokovi ... ade-friday

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[Damian]

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[Damian]

Djokovic: ‘He Was Just The Better Player’

Spoiler:

World No. 1 reflects on three-set loss to Karatsev in Belgrade
Novak Djokovic’s hopes of collecting a third ATP Tour title in his home city were ended in dramatic fashion on Saturday evening when he fell to Aslan Karatsev in the longest ATP Tour match of the 2021 season at the Serbia Open.

The World No. 1 managed to create 28 break points throughout his three-hour, 25-minute battle with the Dubai champion, but he was consistently denied by the Russian, who saved 23 of those chances in a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win.

“You never like losing at home, that is for sure. It is disappointing. I don’t feel so great now but, at the same time, I have to congratulate Karatsev who played very bravely,” said Djokovic. “Whenever he needed to come up with the best shots, he did. Congratulations to him. [It was an] awesome performance from his side.”

You May Also Like: Karatsev Saves 23 Break Points To Stun Djokovic In Belgrade Epic
Djokovic was full of praise for Karatsev in his post-match press conference, and he also took time to thank fans who came to support him at the Novak Tennis Center. But the 33-year-old, who lifted trophies in Belgrade in 2009 and 2011, gave a mixed review of his own performance on Center Court.

“From my side, I played on quite a low level, in my opinion,” said Djokovic. “ some flashes of good quality tennis. I was fighting. That is a positive. I was really trying all the way [and] the crowd was great. They carried me and tried to lift me up, all the way to the end. Because of them, I think I won the second set. Unfortunately in the third, he was just the better player in the decisive moments. I had my chances, but that is sport.”

At the conclusion of his second ATP Head2Head encounter against Karatsev (tied at 1-1), Djokovic approached the net with his thumb up to show his approval of his opponent’s performance. When asked how he has so often been able to quickly put a loss behind him and show graciousness in defeat, Djokovic quickly shared his thought process in the moments immediately following a disappointing result.

“Karatsev showed a lot of courage and that is why I gave him the thumbs up,” said Djokovic. “I felt like he deserved to win… Once the final point is done, there is never bad blood. We are rivals on the court, but I don’t hate anybody. I can’t be upset with him if he beat me. I have to be upset with myself and question why I lost the match. Whoever beats me deserves the credit and I gave him that.”

How To Watch

While Djokovic will not compete for the trophy on Sunday, the 18-time Grand Slam champion was still happy to be a part of the first ATP Tour event to be held in the Serbian capital since 2012.

“It is disappointing [to] finish the week like this at home. I lost to a better player who was just more courageous,” said Djokovic. “He went for his shots at the right time and it worked for him. Nevertheless, it was good week and a successful tournament, in general, for us, for the Serbia Open. Hopefully we can have a good final tomorrow.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/djokovi ... y-reaction

[Damian]

Djokovic Withdraws From Madrid

Spoiler:

The World No. 1 lost in the Belgrade semi-finals last week
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Mutua Madrid Open, the ATP Masters 1000 tournament announced on Wednesday.

"Sorry that I won’t be able to travel to Madrid this year and meet all my fans,” Djokovic said. “It’s been two years already, quite a long time. Hope to see you all next year!”

Djokovic is a three-time Madrid champion, including a victory in the tournament's most recent edition in 2019. The Serbian last competed one week ago in Belgrade, where he advanced to the semi-finals before losing against breakthrough Russian Aslan Karatsev in a three-hour, 26-minute battle.


The 33-year-old owns a 12-2 record on the season, including a run to his ninth Australian Open title in Melbourne.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/djokovi ... adrid-2021

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[Damian]

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[Damian]

Djokovic Discusses ‘Inevitable’ Future Rankings Shift

Spoiler:

Serbian will face Fritz in Rome opener
Following Alexander Zverev’s triumph at the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday, Novak Djokovic took a moment to address the recent success of younger ATP Tour stars ahead of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.

The World No. 1, who is bidding to capture his sixth title in the Italian capital this week, was asked in his pre-tournament press conference about the recent generational shift in power on the ATP Tour. The past four ATP Masters 1000 champions, Daniil Medvedev, Hubert Hurkacz, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev, are all former #NextGenATP stars.

“The results are showing that [there is a shift in generations],” Djokovic said. “These guys are playing every week more or less. There are guys like Tsitsipas, Zverev, Matteo Berrettini [and] Andrey Rublev that are winning against all of us and playing a lot and building their ranking points.

“Medvedev as well, of course, [is] challenging for the top spots. Dominic Thiem, of course, has been there for many years. It's inevitable that it's going to happen. The change in the FedEx ATP Rankings is coming. Whether it's going to happen in a month or a year or whatever, I don't know.”

How To Watch

While Djokovic is aware that the younger players on the ATP Tour are starting to enjoy more frequent success at the top of the sport, the Serbian was given a big opportunity to reminisce about the greatness of his own generation on Monday.

The 36-time Masters 1000 champion shared a practice session with former World No. 1 Andy Murray, who is training in Rome in preparation for his return to the ATP Tour. Djokovic and Murray have contested 36 ATP Head2Head encounters (Djokovic leads 25-11), including two clashes at this event (1-1). Djokovic outlasted Murray in an epic 2011 semi-final at the Foro Italico, before Murray gained revenge in the 2016 championship match.

“I was very happy to see [Andy]. I haven't seen him in a while, and it was great to hit with him,” Djokovic said. “I thought he played very well on the court. He moved well, considering it's clay, which is not the best surface for his hips. Considering what he has been through lately, I think it seems like he's been feeling well on the court.

“That's what he's saying, and that's [how] it appears on the court itself. We had a nice chat and had a few laughs on the court as well. It was just great. It brought back the old times when we spent a lot of time on the court together, whether it was training or playing against each other.”

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/andy ... view'>Andy Murray</a> and <a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/nova ... iew'>Novak Djokovic</a> practised together at the <a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/ ... rnazionali BNL d'Italia</a> on Monday.

Djokovic enters Rome with a 3-2 record on clay this year, following his third-round exit at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (l. to Evans) and his run to the Serbia Open semi-finals (l. to Karatsev).

The five-time champion will open his Rome campaign against Taylor Fritz, whom he beat in a dramatic five-set encounter en route to his ninth Australian Open title in February. In comparison to previous European clay swings, Djokovic may be short of match practice ahead of that clash, but the top seed is confident he can raise his level and return to his best form.

“I didn't play so great in Monaco and Belgrade, but I'm hopefully going to change that here in Rome and then another week in Belgrade before Roland Garros,” Djokovic said.

“Four tournaments before Roland Garros is, I think, enough in terms of match play. I'm building my fitness and I'm building just my game slowly, step by step in order to peak in Paris. That's definitely where I want to play my best.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/djokovi ... 21-preview

[Damian]

Novak Djokovic Says He is “Not Paying Too Much Attention to Rankings” After Breaking Roger Federer’s Record

Spoiler:

World No.1 Novak Djokovic will begin his Italian Open 2021 campaign tomorrow. The Serbian legend is the defending champion there and will begin as one of the favorites in the tournament. Fans are quite excited to see him on the court again and want to know what’s going on in his mind right now.

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In a recent interview, Novak Djokovic revealed his priorities at the moment. He mentioned that he is not thinking about the rankings right now because he already accomplished what he wanted to achieve.


Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in action during his third-round match against Britain’s Dan Evans REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
“I am not paying too much attention to rankings nowadays after I have achieved the historic number one,” said Djokovic in the interview.

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Djoker recently became the World No.1 player after overthrowing Rafael Nadal in February 2020. In March 2021, he overtook Roger Federer and became the player who has remained at the top spot for the most weeks.

As of now, he has been the No.1 player for 320 weeks. Even though Daniil Medvedev had the chance to surpass him, he didn’t play well at the Miami Open 2021 and then skipped the Monte Carlo Masters as well as he tested positive for COVID-19, thus, ensuring that Djokovic remains the World No.1 for some more time.

“My priority are Grand Slams”- Novak Djokovic
In the same interview, Djokovic reflected that his priority is to win more and more Grand Slams at the moment. He stated that he thinks about succeeding there and wants to finish his career as the player with the most Grand Slams titles.


Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts during his second-round match against Italy’s Jannik Sinner REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
“It (staying World No.1) was the focus, but now my priority are Grand Slams, I want to peak for those,” added the 33-year-old.

Djokovic currently has 18-Grand Slams after his triumph at the Australian Open 2021. However, he is still two majors behind his arch-rivals, Rafa and Roger, who have 20 at the moment. He can certainly reach their level if he excels at the French Open and the US Open this year.

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Novak Djokovic will play Taylor Fritz tomorrow in the first round of the Italian Open 2021. He survived a tough match against the American player at the Australian Open this year. Will Djokovic be able to conquer Rome yet again this year?

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[Damian]

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