"He’s a born perfectionist and always wants to play perfect tennis": Justine Henin and Boris Becker assess trouble with Novak Djokovic's poor form so far
ATPFriday, 19 January 2024 at 05:30
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Justine Henin and former world
number one Boris Becker believe it is a matter of time before Serbia’s Novak
Djokovic returns to his very best.
The 36-year-old had a relatively hard beginning to his
campaign at the Australian Open where he ended up winning first and second-round encounters in four sets.
Hennin was recently quoted in a report where she suggested
that Djokovic is definitely struggling which can happen when you are praying at the highest level.
“It means, as he put it, that he’s still not able to play
his best tennis. He says it much better than we do. You could see from his face
that he wasn’t feeling particularly well. After the first round, I thought he
was more relieved than today,” she said.
“Maybe he’s going through some physical difficulties, facing
young players who want to take their chances. He got through it in four sets,
with a little more time on court, but he’s in the third round.
“At the end of the first set, we were right not to worry
about Djokovic. He was playing extremely well. Popyrin destabilised a Djokovic
who was losing his intensity. The world No 1 came back with a vengeance.
“There’s some inconsistency, but it’s all about energy and
intensity. He made no secret of it: he wasn’t at his best physically, he was a
bit ill. You always wonder at what level you’re going to find this player, at
the start of the season or at the start of a Grand Slam, but does it really
matter?
“With the matches, the confidence, the experience of a
tournament, we know that all that can evolve. He knows that better than any
other player. Of course he’d like to be at an even higher level, but at the
same time he knows that he’s capable of playing better in the next round if he
feels better physically.”
On the other hand, Becker was also quoted in a report where
he demanded respect for Djokovic who is going through a ‘difficult’ phase.
“He (Djokovic) was honest about the fact that he is still
behind form and not playing his best tennis. He demands the utmost attention
from his box and of course the right tactical support,” the former world No 1
analysed.
“Sometimes this is difficult to understand if the returns
were actually good but Novak wasn’t satisfied with them. He’s a born
perfectionist and always wants to play perfect tennis – that’s always
challenging for a coach.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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