Novak Djokovic admits lack of motivation outside of Grand Slams

Monday, 13 May 2024 at 20:00

Novak Djokovic commented that he remains motivated to play Grand Slams but has lost motivation in less important events. The Serbian stated at the beginning of the year that his goals for the year are at the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open, as well as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The world No. 1 has reduced his schedule, and this year he has only played in four tournaments, skipping two Masters 1000 events: the Miami Open and the Madrid Open. Djokovic has left doubts throughout the season, with some surprising defeats.

Djokovic continues to struggle to find his best form

At the start of the year, the Serbian lost in the semifinals of the Aussie Open to an almost unstoppable Jannik Sinner. Only two months later, he competed in Indian Wells and fell in the third round to the 20-year-old Italian Luca Nardi, who was outside the top 100 at the time.

Read also

From there, Djokovic's poor form became evident. Shortly after, he announced that he would not be participating in the Miami Open, despite his participation being confirmed, and he parted ways with his coach of the last 5 years, Goran Ivanisevic. Later in the clay swing, he reached the semifinals of the Monte-Carlo Masters but lost to Casper Ruud, and his latest defeat came on Sunday at the Rome Open against the world No. 32 Alejandro Tabilo, who secured his first victory against a top-10 player.

"If I am playing poorly – I am far from the desired form. We’ll see how things go, Grand Slams are a bit different though, I love playing them, I’m extra motivated there. I hope everything will be fine with my head," Novak Djokovic said.

Djokovic is is 12-5 on the season

"This year, I have a different feeling, the general feeling related to the competitions. I’m trying to get the most out of myself, but I haven’t succeeded so far. Now comes the most important block of the year, I’m getting ready for it," he added.

The next challenge is the French Open, which begins on May 20th, where Nole defends the title. It will be a tough challenge for the Serbian, who seems far from his best form and must at least reach the final if he does not want to concede the world No. 1 ranking to the Italian Jannik Sinner.

Tennis TV

@TennisTV

·Follow

Rome is stunned 😳 Alejandro Tabilo claims the biggest win of his career so far, defeating number 1 seed Djokovic 6-2 6-3 in 67 minutes at the @InteBNLdItalia #IBI24

Watch on X

2:16 PM · May 12, 2024

3.7K

Read 139 replies

Read also

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

See author's posts

claps 0visitors 0

Jannik Sinner will become World No.1 regardless under these circumstances at Roland Garros

Andy Roddick predicts the most open Roland Garros in 25 years