ATP Madrid: standing man Novak Djokovic strikes back impressively
Novak Djokovic reached the final at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid thanks to an impressive performance against Dominic Thiem - and once again showed his critics that he should never be written off.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: May 12, 2019, 01:47 am
Novak Djokovic has just admitted again how much he was surprised. About himself. About his temporary crash from the highest tennis heights. About his deep crisis. About the public speculation why he rushed into the depths. And also about his formidable comeback, about the last Grand Slam victories, about the return to number 1 in the world rankings.
“I was number 22 in the ranking and thought: You will never come back,” said Djokovic in an interview with L'Equipe, “People think we are robots. But we are not. We are human beings."
Djokovic has experienced significant turbulence not only in the past three years, but also in the past few weeks. Sporty and sport-political. He suddenly lost games that he had not lost in a long time - against opponents that he had previously dominated. And he generated massive criticism when he was initially significantly involved in the departure of ATP boss Chris Kermode at the end of the year and then took a rather indifferent position on the case of problem official Justin Gimelstob.
Djokovic silences critics
It was only under public pressure that Gimelstob, who was sentenced to probation for a beating attack, resigned as an ATP official, but not at the instigation of his friend Djokovic. In between, Djokovic himself stated that because of his controversial activities as head of the ATP player council, he had lost the necessary focus on the essentials, on game, set and victory on the center court.
But copying someone like Djokovic has never been worth it. Just like Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer did not pay off in long career years. When Djokovic walked against Dominic Thiem of Austria on Center Court in Madrid on Saturday afternoon to the highly anticipated semi-final duel at this Masters spectacle, Thiem would have been given the rather bigger chance of winning - especially after his heartbeat success against Federer the day before .
But in the end, Djokovic triumphed - over Thiem, the most impressive clay court player of this season. And a little bit about yourself and the secret doubts. "I am very happy that I have achieved this success," said the 31-year-old after the 7: 6 (7: 2), 7: 6 (7: 4) final accounts, "it was a colossus that I was there for had to clear the way. ”Djokovic, Madrid champion twice, will face the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.
High tension before the French Open
Djokovic's best clay court appearance also raised general expectations for the French Open, which begins in Paris in late May. One of the most exciting title fights in the recent past can be expected there. Djokovic could win the fourth Grand Slam title in a row there, for the second time in his career he would then have all four major trophies at the same time. But it is also clear that the competition is tough. And wide. And not only Nadal and Thiem have to be considered as rivals, but also the unencumbered, freely acting Federer.
Against Thiem, the maestro indicated in the Madrid quarter-finals what he might be able to do on fast ashes places - no wonder that after the generally courageous guest appearance in Spain's capitals, he will now also compete at the Masters in Rome. "I feel good, fresh and motivated. And everyone on the team also thought that the start was okay, ”said Federer.
Rome is the last clay court master of the season, but also the last big test run for all aces before Paris. In 2018 Nadal won in the Italian capital, in three competitive final sets against the German Alexander Zverev. Federer will now meet either the American Francis Tiafoe or the Portuguese Joao Sousa in his opening round of the second round (he initially has a walk-through). If everything went according to plan for Federer, it would come to the first explosive duel in the quarter-finals, namely with next-gen star Tsitsipas.