Djokovic’s magical illness that affected his tennis and metabolism

Serbian Novak Djokovic is having a difficult time. His 2022 began with controversial deportation from Australia for his refusal to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, a position that marginalized him from the “great” ocean and then also from Indian Wells and Miami and allowed him to play only. of three tournaments this year. . With little activity, his tennis is not the same as before. And to complete a tough panorama, on Sunday, after beating the final of Belgrade ATPsaid he had recently suffered from an illness that affected his body and metabolism and for which he is still recovering.

“It’s not a coronavirus, it’s something I won’t go into detail because I don’t think it’s necessary,” he warned, to avoid speculation, though he didn’t say what the problem was, who was responsible. for his early fall in Monte Carlo. , a few weeks ago.

The world number one suffered on the court in the Belgrade final, which he lost 6-2, 6-7 (4-7) and 6-0 against Russian Andrey Rublev, eighth in the ranking. He looked exhausted, especially in the latter part of the second set, using ice towels at breaks and on the brink of retirement sometimes. And he wasn’t known in the final set, where he had no physical response and he was overtaken by his rival.

“Something like this never happened to me, maybe on the beginning of my career. But I felt in Monte Carlo and then here. That’s why I think it’s related to the illness I had, which was something hard physically and also in terms of “I think the recovery time is taking longer than I expected,” the Serb explained.

“I didn’t feel too tired until after the second set. I came back after some medical time and changed clothes to try to fight for the match, but I only reached two games. In the third set I ran out. Of energy. I’m sorry. people, because it’s not good to see on the track and I know they want to see me win, ”he said.

After missing the first Grand Slam of the season, after the Australian government denied him a visa for not inoculating against Covid-19, Djokovic played his first tournament of the year last year. dubai, at the end of February, where he reached the quarterfinals. Limited by anti-coronavirus restrictions enforced in the United States, it was not active throughout March. And he only played again on April 12, when he lost to Spain Alexander Davidovich Fokina on his debut in the second round of the Masters 1000 played in Monaco.

Many have taught that this defeat was due to his lack of shooting and match rhythm, but nole declared now that it was the result of that magical disease.

“It affects my body and my metabolism, but I really want to play in Monaco,” he said.

And about his time in Belgrade, his best tournament in 2022, he assured: “It’s disturbing to have this feeling on the court, especially since I haven’t experienced it in years. I always see myself as one to the strongest. players on the circuit So it’s not a problem with my body. And here I saw that after four three-set battles, I’m tired. It’s good to progress, even slowly. I’m improving physically, playing three sets. … Looking at it like this, is positive “.

Djokovic needs to get up as soon as possible because over the next two months he has plenty of points to defend if he doesn’t want to ruin his number one again, which he already lost for two weeks at the start of March at hand. by Daniel Medvedev.

The next Serbian commitment is Madrid Masters 1000, of which 500 points will be played, half the equivalent of the 2019 title, which still has value due to the ranking system applied due to the pandemic. Then you have to defend 600 for the last of Rome last year, 2,000 for his dedication to Roland Garros and another 250 he earned when he was crowned in another tournament played in Belgrade in 2021.