Feliciano
Lopez evaluated Novak Djokovic's start to the 2024 season and expressed that
the defeats he suffered are normal. He also downplayed the significance of
Djokovic's withdrawal from the Miami Open before its start.
The Serbian
experienced a tough loss in the semifinals of the Australian Open against
Jannik Sinner. Later, in Indian Wells, he faced another disappointment, being
eliminated in his second match by the young Italian Luca Nardi, who had never
before entered the top 100.
Following
Djokovic's surprising defeat at the Tennis Paradise, the 24-time Grand Slam
champion decided to take a break and not participate in the Miami Open:
“Hi Miami!
Unfortunately I won’t be playing the Miami Open this year. At this stage of my
career, I’m balancing my private and professional schedule. I’m sorry that I
won’t experience some of the best and most passionate fans in the world. I’m
looking fw competing in MI in future!”
Feliciano
Lopez made his professional debut in 1997 and retired after a 26-year career. The
former Spanish tennis player commented on Djokovic's decision following the
defeats: 'It seems normal to me. We have also occasionally seen Novak lose a
game that he was not involved in,' the 42-year-old told EFE.
“In the end
people are also alarmed. Since he never loses, people eventually become
alarmed. I wouldn’t give it more importance than he has.”
“He lost in
Australia with Sinner, which is predictable, things that have happened all his
life, and then in Indian Wells… It’s his way of understanding the calendar now.
That has worked well for him. I don’t think this will cause him any major
problems. Let’s see what happens,” he added.
Djokovic is expected
to return to competition at the upcoming Monte-Carlo Masters, which begins on
April 7th and marks the start of the clay season for the world No. 1