2023-11-05 20:58:36
“Thank you anyway…” In the middle of the Accor Arena, with an ironic smile, Novak Djokovic sums up in French his “special relationship” with the public this week in Paris. For three rounds, the world No. 1 was as much heckled by the crowd as by his successive opponents who forced him to battle for three sets (Griekspoor, Rune and Rublev).
So, to silence any desire in the stands or on the other side of the net, the Serbian decided to cut short the final against the returning Grigor Dimitrov. In two short sets and barely more than an hour and a half (6-4, 6-3), the Bulgarian already had the loser’s board in his bag and Djokovic the winner’s tree handed over by Teddy Riner in his forest of trophies.
The seventh. His 40th title in Masters 1000. The 97th line on his record. And the virtual assurance of being world No. 1 for the eighth time at the end of the season. There comes a point when numbers no longer mean anything because they seem so extravagant. The only records that the Belgrade resident can beat are most often his own…
By playing at 50 or 60% of his means after a month and a half of vacation, as has been the case in recent days, the man with 24 Grand Slams has sufficient margin to still get by. “The Next Gen?,” he joked during the awards ceremony. This is the generation over thirty (Dimitrov is 32)! »
Even though he may have rubbed shoulders with his rival on the circuit for a long time, Dimitrov is still amazed. “He was perhaps not at his best physically but he managed to make me work on each shot,” observes the former No. 3 at the ATP. I have so much respect for him, for the way he fights on the field. He is still able to get the most out of his game even if he is not at his best. »
“I’m at a stage in my career where every victory is worth double”
I come, I win and I come back. Same places, same results. And yet no feeling of weariness. On the contrary. “It’s definitely one of my most special and most significant victories in the Masters 1000,” says the circuit boss. With all the stomach problems I’ve had, the matches I’ve won and almost lost. If we take the circumstances into account, it is one of the successes that has the most weight and value, and one of the sweetest too. I’m at a stage in my career where every victory is worth double. »
The Serb almost has difficulty explaining why he is so far above the fray. “We are also human beings,” he explains. We have to manage a lot of things, emotions, private life, and this inevitably affects performance. I’m like everyone else, I do my best. I didn’t play at the level I normally play at big tournaments, you have to accept and fight to survive another day. »
THE BOSS NOVAK DJOKOVIC!
Completely in control, Novak Djokovic overthrew Grigor Dimitrov to win his…
▪️ 7ème Rolex Paris Masters : ???? RECORD
▪️ 40ème Masters 1000 : ???? RECORD
▪️ 97th title: ???? of the Open era
▪️ 1,082nd match: ???? of the Open era pic.twitter.com/uUu7lQbVBN— Game, Set and Maths (@JeuSetMaths) November 5, 2023
And be one step ahead. In the exchange or in the ambitions. Barely back in the locker room, time to congratulate his reduced staff, and the stainless Serbian was already looking towards new adventures of which he intends to remain the hero. While most of the players are preparing a stay in a paradise island, he has ticked off Turin and Malaga on his end-of-year schedule.
From November 12 to 19, he will be in Italy to win a 6th Masters and take his seat. In fact, he would have to lose all his matches and Alcaraz win all of his to see the young Spaniard defraud him of the No. 1 position.
In the process, Novak 1st decided to offer Serbia its second Davis Cup after the one won against France in 2010. Almost routine.
“I’m going to put down the racket for two or three days, enjoy the family, recharge the batteries and I’ll leave with a good feeling and confidence,” he says. I haven’t lost a match since the Wimbledon final (against Alcaraz)… Bercy is great, but it’s already behind me. I am proud but already ready to turn another page. Fortunately or unfortunately this is how I operate. As long as I am in business, I would like to earn more…”
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