After the Wimbledon final left Novak Djokovic down but not out, he’s gearing up to give it his all at the Paris Olympics. But recently, tennis legend Martina Navratilova talked about how it’s not going to be easy for the Serbian tennis star to get started with the Olympics just after finishing Wimbledon. Not only that, she also shared an example from the Tokyo Olympics, sharing a concern for him.
Recently, the 59-time Grand Slam champion sat down with Tennis Channel to talk about tennis at the Paris Olympics. However, at the same time, the 67-year-old tennis legend mentioned how it won’t be easy for the 37-year-old and his player to play back-to-back big events.
She stated, “So, basically, two weeks after Wimbledon is over Olympics start, and the top players who had played here really but such a short turnaround, and then you’re there and it’s emotionally exhausting physically exhausting and then they go on the hard courts.”
On the other hand, Navratilova also talked about the 2021 pain, that the Serb went through. Apparently, Djokovic was worn out after the 2021 Olympics and was not ready for the US Open, where he lost in the finals. His vitality was depleted by the demanding schedule and fierce competition in Tokyo, which affected his performance in New York.
Further, Navratilova added, “I think they’ll be really you know tongues hanging out at the US Open. I think they’ll be okay for the Olympics but how much energy do you have? I think it cost Novak Djokovic the Grand Slam three years ago, and now they’re doing it again. It’s going to be tough more than the surface it’s just the emotional and mental stuff that will get you down.”
Djokovic now concentrates on the Paris Olympics following a fierce battle in the Wimbledon final, where he just lost out on the title. There are worries that history may repeat itself because of the possibility that his preparation and performance in Paris may be impacted by the mental and physical strain from Wimbledon.
On the other hand, Navratilova brought up Djokovic’s “doubt” statement from a few weeks ago, highlighting how age affects his game. Although Djokovic has more Grand Slam victories than any other player at twenty-four, Navratilova pointed out that age eventually plays a role in an athlete’s career.
Navratilova’s take on how Djokovic’s age can affect his game
Navratilova stated that following his titleless start to the 2024 season, even Novak Djokovic experiences doubts “no matter what.” The eighteen-time Grand Slam singles champion thinks that although Djokovic’s tough mindset may prevent him from worrying too much about his form, aging is a factor that must be overlooked.
She stated, “You have to have it (doubt) no matter what. Even if you don’t have it, the press reminds you. I wouldn’t worry about it if you have Novak’s mindset, and I’m sure he’s not worried about it at all.” Navratilova noted that “the bad days are worse” for players as they age, emphasizing how the physical and psychological strain of the game may have a greater toll.
Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on Djokovic getting ready for the Paris Olympics? Do let us know in the comment section below.
