Novak Djokovic’s 2024 season has been a bit of an up-and-down affair. The Serbian, who hasn’t won a single Grand Slam tournament this year, was eliminated in the third round of the US Open on Saturday. The 37-year-old, who won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, seemed less fit physically. Mats Wilander also dropped a surprising punchline about him.
L’US Openit’s already over for Novak Djokovic. Gold medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Gamesthe Serbian was eliminated in the third round of the American Grand Slam tournament. The 37-year-old lost to Alexei Popyrin this Saturday (6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4). Novak Djokovic will therefore not have won any Grand Slam this season (semi-final at the Australian Open, forfeit in the quarter-final at Roland-Garros, final at Wimbledon). Mats Wilander then did not hesitate to drop an astonishing punchline on Nole.
Tennis: He’s predicting more big things for Djokovic! pic.twitter.com/YxNjVdvajc
— le10sport (@le10sport) September 2, 2024
“His shots seem ‘normal’ compared to others”
« It’s pretty amazing that he’s won 24 Grand Slam titles considering the following – when he’s not playing very well, suddenly his shots seem “normal” compared to everyone else. Rafa Nadal had that great spin, Roger Federer served and sliced, and with Novak – if he’s a little bit off, I think other players can feel a little bit comfortable on the court with him. That’s why it’s even more amazing that he’s so much better than everyone else when he’s on form. Like a human dressing up as an alien” confided the Swede, world number 1 in 1988, in an interview with the Serbian media Sports club .
“I played some of the worst tennis I’ve ever played”
Novak Djokovic, for his part, had very harsh words for himself after his elimination from theUS Open. « He clearly played better and deserved to win. For me, given the way I felt and the way I played since the beginning of the tournament, the third round is already a success. I played some of the worst tennis I have ever played, my serve was by far the worst of my entire career» launchedAbsent. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to recover after this disappointment.
