Sheltered from the rain under the roof of the Central, Novak Djokovic drained the Swede Ymer (6-0, 6-2, 6-3 in 1h38).
No cold sweats for the world n ° 1, who acts for many, weather permitting, master of the skies of the tournament.
“The situation is different from the usual, he breathes.
Everyone has talked about the balls, the dirt, the cold that affects the game. But my game is there, I am ready physically, mentally and emotionally to go far in the tournament.
If I didn't have that goal and that motivation, I wouldn't be here.
How better to start a Grand Slam than with a 6-0?
"
Despite the absence of an audience in the stands, the "Djoker", who will face Lithuanian Berankis on Thursday, continues to distribute hugs after the match point.
As if the conditions had no hold on him.
This year, it's Novak 1er who is making rain and shine on the tennis world.
In all latitudes.
On the court, first of all, where the Serbian, 33, has still not drunk the cup in 32 "classic" games.
Barely drowned himself in an unlikely disqualification at the US Open after unintentionally striking a linesman (with a bullet).
“Apart from this experience, I won all the matches I played,” he says.
And the more you win, the more your confidence level rises… ”Even if he is not impervious to relapse, the winner of the 2016 edition, who has already enthroned 288 weeks at the top of the ATP, goes towards the record of Federer (310) with his boots of seven leagues.
A coronation in Paris on October 11 would even make him the only player of the Open era to have won the four Grand Slams at least twice ...
"I can't do it all alone"
Off the field, the man with 17 major tournaments also panicked the weather reports.
From esoteric positions during confinement (purification of water by the mind) to the creation of a new players association (PTPA) through the incredible organization of a tour in the Balkans and the resulting positive control for Covid-19, Djokovic has been everywhere.
Almost too much.
Unlike his alter egos Federer and Nadal, rather discreet since the start of the pandemic.
The No. 1 seed wants to leave its mark in all areas.
While having to find the balance between his champion career and his "political" designs.
"I can not do everything alone, defends the resigning president of the ATP players' council.
There are tournaments to play and we have to focus on our professional careers.
Once we are in competition, it is difficult to have all this mental load, to speak with the players to explain to them the merits of our approach… and to play!
The priority is the matches and physical preparation.
"
In recent weeks, the birth of the PTPA has sown a storm between the duo Fedal (Federer-Nadal) and the one who wants to wax all their records.
But this Djokovic doesn't seem to fear the storm ...
