Djokovic, this Monday upon his arrival at Malaga airport.Angel Martinez Getty Images Europe (Getty Images Europe EFE)
This Monday, Malaga welcomed the tennis crocodile, namely Novak Djokovic, who, when landing in a private airport terminal, wore the same baseball shirt that he wore when he arrived two weeks earlier in Turin, where we already know what happened: the almost always. The winner, the number one, now rushes to Andalusia, his second home, to try to clinch the last of his prize this year, the Davis Cup. It will not be out of desire. A lover of team competitions and always with a deep sense of patriotism, the Serb is ready to leave a final mark on this triumphant season in which almost nothing has stood against him. At the end of the year there are seven trophies and the throne, and it is also clear who is in charge.
“The way I finished the tournament [la Copa de Maestros conquistada el domingo] and the course are incredible,” he said to journalists the day before, amazed at the Balkans’ ability to assert themselves and improve. Could the Djokovic of 10 years ago compete with the one now? “A decade ago it was 2013, so I would say today would win. 2015 was probably my best year when I made it to the final 19 times in a row, but I would say that this final would beat the one from ten years ago; I don’t know what the result would be, but I’m sure it would be difficult for my younger self,” joked the one from Belgrade, a nonconformist who, without having completed 2023, is already thinking about the adventure of 2024 .
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“How can you make it better? “Well, you can always win the big four and also the Olympic gold,” continued Nole, who has the Paris Games between his eyebrows considering it is one of the few prizes he has not achieved. “It’s definitely one of the biggest goals for next year. The schedule will be very busy and we will be changing surfaces very quickly, so that will be a big challenge. But I always have the highest ambitions, so 2024 will be no different. The drive I have is still there and my body functions and listens to me well. “The motivation is still there,” he expects in case anyone is confused.
The Serb was received at the airport by the director of the Davis Finals, Feliciano López, and is already starting to plan the attack on the Salad Bowl at the Martín Carpena in Malaga with his clique. He feels at home in Malaga, where he has one of his residences (in Marbella) and the local fans are eagerly awaiting him. Spain will not take part in this final stage as it lost in the group stage held in Valencia in September. Therefore, it will be the main attraction of a competition that begins this Tuesday with the dispute for the first quarter-final series between the defending champions Canada and the surprising Finland (4:00 p.m., Movistar+).
On Wednesday, the Czech Republic and Australia will face each other (4:00 p.m.), on Thursday Djokovic will face Great Britain (4:00 p.m.), after the duel between Italy and Holland (12:00 p.m.).
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