Novak Djokovic returns to the ATP Tour. After losing in the semifinals of the US Open to Carlos Alcaraz, the Serb took a break which he will end at the Shanghai Masters 1000. While the Spaniard played in Tokyo and Sinner in Beijing, Djokovic, without playing in the Davis Cup either, has been out of competition for almost a month.
Croatia’s Marian Cilic will test how Djokovic is doing in the final stretch of the season. “I still want to compete head-to-head with Carlos and Jannik in Grand Slams. If you’re not 100% physically against them, your whole game is affected. I know it’s hard to beat them over five sets because I don’t get as good as they do. In a three-set tournament and in a seven-day tournament is where I feel I have the best chance of winning or getting a meaningful result,” Novak said in the press conference prior to the start of his participation in Shanghai.
“Apart from the matches I lost against these two best players in the world [Sinner and Alcaraz] I think I played very well in the Grand Slams and reached the semi-finals in each of them,” Djokovic said. “That says a lot about my level and my consistency, so I’m happy with that. But at the same time there is a part of me that is always a winner, that wants to be the best.”
The 24-time Grand Slam winner would face Sinner again in the semi-finals if both reach that round in Shanghai. “It’s not ideal when you’re playing important matches and you lose against the best players in the world. But that doesn’t discourage me to keep going. I don’t play tennis just to get results and win trophies, there are other reasons why I keep going like the love of the people and contributing to the growth of tennis.”
Djokovic has always maintained a position against the overload of the calendar. “I have positioned myself against the extension to two weeks in the Masters 1000 because I do not think it is good for the players. However, I see players talking about obligations with tournaments that have to be played and they also sign up for exhibitions. It’s a bit contradictory. We players are not united enough. We complain, but we don’t do what it takes to change things,” he said.
Djokovic was asked how it feels to have his children as spectators at his matches, although on this occasion they will not be in Shanghai. “My children and my wife are my biggest supporters. Seeing them in the stands inspires me even more. I love having them there. My son [Stefan] plays more tennis, so he follows what’s going on. He insisted a lot on traveling with me to China. He wants to travel with me everywhere, but he has to go to school and it’s not that simple.”
Pedro Martinez says goodbye in the first round
The first round of the Shanghai Masters 1000 saw Pedro Martinez’s defeat. He lost to France’s Arthur Cazaux 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, who will now face Cameron Norrie. The Frenchman was particularly effective with his serve, hitting 24 aces. Martinez stayed in the match by neutralising eight of the 11 break points his opponent had.
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