He’s the most dominant tennis player of the last decade, maybe even history, but Serbian Novak Djokovic doesn’t want to be seen as an untouched superman. “It’s important to understand that we are all human, that we all go through difficult times, challenges and obstacles,” said the world number 1 on the sidelines of the Rome Masters.
The man of 22 major titles also explained during the traditional media day that crying was a liberation for him.
“We tell ourselves that we have to be strong and always at our best. And as a man, when we’re going through difficult times, we may be judged or criticized for our way of letting our feelings out, because we can’t be weak,” “Djoko” finally confided, whose words were echoed by him the official tournament website.
“[Pleurer], it could be taken as a sign of weakness, he continued. But I think it’s exactly the opposite. […] It’s also okay not to be okay.
He will lose the 1stum rank
Djokovic makes his comeback against Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry, the 61st racket in the world, on Friday in Rome, where he is the defending champion.
Moreover, it is almost certain that the Serb will lose his first place in the world, regardless of the outcome of this encounter.
The Serb, who missed Madrid through injury and was beaten in his first game in Monte Carlo and his second in Banja Luka, will once again see Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz overtake him in the standings.
Alcaraz, just 20 years old, was crowned in Barcelona and Madrid. He only has to play his first game in Rome, scheduled for Saturday against compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinola (72), to secure his return to the top of the world.
A position he held for 20 weeks late last year and early this year.