More could be expected from Novak Djokovic's return at French Open, says Mats Wilander
ATPWednesday, 29 May 2024 at 10:15
Former world number one Mats Wilander believes that Serbia’s
legendary tennis star Novak Djokovic’s return was not as good as it should’ve
been during his French Open first-round outing. The 36-year-old, who is often
regarded as the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the Open era,
having won as many as 24 Grand Slam titles, secured a comfortable win on Tuesday
against France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert in straight sets with a score of 6-4,
7-6, 6-4.
Wilander was quoted in a report as saying that while he was not expecting anything but a win for someone like Djokovic, the 37-year-old must improve his return going forward into the competition. “His return of serve is definitely not where it used to be, where it needs to be,” he said. It’s
difficult to do on a clay court with such a big serve and so much spin from
Pierre-Hugues.
“In the end he goes out, he’s focused, he wins, the crowd is
against him, he loves that. The only expectation I had for Novak was to win.
He’s not going to lose this match, but it’s not easy to play someone who serves
and volleys. He looked a little bit off balance, but I got what I expected,
which was a three-set straight victory for Novak.”
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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