Djokovic signs another ode to escapism

Novak Djokovic nails the forehand, sentences (6-3, 6-7(5) and 7-6(2) and the volcano explodes: arms crossed, celebrates and roars as if he had already set that sixth scepter that would raise him in the Master territory at the height of Roger Federer. But no. In reality, he and Daniil Medvedev apparently did not play anything, already decided the pass of one and the elimination of the other. However, the Serb's blood boils. Nole rewinds towards September of last year and he remembers, deprived then of a great of incalculable value because if he had won, the Balkan would have beaten Nadal and Federer for the first time. Not only did he not do it, but the Russian undressed him. And he does not forget, Sure.

Before the signing, he suffers a tremor in his arm, panting, freshening up.

She previously goes to the locker room to change her contact lenses and the duel slowly wriggles until she gets up and unlocks it.

He does it his way, magnificent guerrilla.

With just enough strength, he pulls with pride and signs the full: three out of three in the group stage and only two steps away from the master record.

Despite the fact that the pulse of the semifinals with Taylor Fritz is just around the corner – this Saturday, at 2:00 p.m.;

Movistar–, the Serbian does not spare an ounce of effort.

Not against Medvedev, the man who last year deprived him of becoming the third tennis player in history to win all four

in the same year.

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Since that episode, three wins against the Russian, who with the defeat closes a season in which he initially touched heaven –two sets up in the final in Australia against Nadal, in January– and which now ends without any noteworthy trace on his part. .

Two discreet titles (Los Cabos and Viena), without weight on the big stages and a disappointing time in the Masters Cup;

tournament champion two years ago and finalist last year, he left empty again, as happened in 2019. This time he hurts a lot.

He served to beat Tsitsipas on Wednesday and has also served to beat Djokovic again, but he skids again.

How is it explained?

"Very easy: I sucked, so... It's a disaster," he punishes himself, although he says that he imagines going back and turning the situation around, doing something "big" in the future.

Meanwhile, Nole continues to make the most of this last quarter –24 victories and only two setbacks in June here– and competes with everything to be crowned again, the first time at the Pala Alpitour in Turin.

“It was just fatigue;

I mean, I'm not sick, ”says the one from Belgrade, who has not been able to sink his teeth into the tournament since 2015. And where do these tremors come from?

He responds to reporters: “I'm not going to go into details because I just don't feel like this is the right place to share it.

Why should I do it?

I don't want to reveal what's happening to my rivals."

A grueling encounter 🥵#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/2ArIk6iNbh

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 18, 2022

He ended up exhausted after 3h 11m, from slap to slap, and he now looks decisively at the crossover with Fritz because he is two steps away from turning a nightmare year into a dream for any other player.

Until today there are four prizes and of all colors: earth, grass, cement: Rome, Wimbledon, Tel Aviv and Astana.

“Limits do not exist, they are only in your head.

It's about always having an open mind, open eyes, open ears.

Learn from each experience.

We are all different.

Some use mental exercises, others a thought, others rely on a person... In tennis everything happens very quickly and it is very challenging, that is why it is so beautiful", he summarizes in a philosophical key when they ask him why he and other giants They are capable of overcoming such adverse situations.

In January, everything was dark for him, who is intimidating today.

Irreducible Djokovic where there are.

THIS IS HOW THE MASTERS CUP GOES

AC |

Turin

Format.

Two groups with four members each.

The best two will access the semifinals, in which the first of the Green Group will be measured against the second of the Red and vice versa.

Results and program.

Friday the 18th: Djokovic, 6-3, 6-7(5) and 7-6-(2) Tsitsipas-Rublev.

Saturday 19: Djokovic-Fritz (2:00 p.m., Movistar).

Ruud-(-) (21.00).

groups.

Green: 1.- Ruud (2 wins and 1 loss; 4 sets in favor and 3 against).

2.- Fritz (2-1 and 5-3).

Aliassime (1-2 and 3-4).

Nadal (1-2 and 2-4).

Red: 1.- Djokovic (3-0 and 6-1).

2.- Tsitsipas (-).

3.- Rublev (-).

4.- Medvedev (0-3 and 3-6).

Calendar.

Final: Sunday 20, at 7:00 p.m.

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