Martina Navratilova: "The tables have turned", "Normally, it's Novak that doesn't give people room to breathe. And now it's Alcaraz"

Former world number one Martina Navratilova believes Novak Djokovic is still in the process of finding a solution, as age has finally caught up with him. The 38-year-old suffered a defeat in the semifinal of the US Open to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 on Friday.

It was Djokovic’s fourth consecutive defeat in the semifinal of a Grand Slam this season. At the Australian Open, Djokovic was forced to retire because of a fitness concern against Germany’s Alexander Zverev. At the French Open, Djokovic suffered a defeat to world number one Jannik Sinner in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 7-5, 7-6. At Wimbledon, Djokovic once again came short while facing Sinner, who came out on top in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

After losing the recent semifinal, Djokovic himself admitted that age has finally caught him and that he has found it hard to get the better of the two best players in the world, Sinner and Alcaraz. Former world number one Navratilova spoke to Sky Sports, where she highlighted the biggest obstacle Djokovic is facing while playing against the best.

Navratilova highlighted that back in the days, Djokovic was the one who did not let his opponents breathe, but the tables have turned completely, and that is something that has been done to him now by the likes of Alcaraz and Sinner. Navratilova was of the opinion that Djokovic has yet to come to terms with how to deal with such issues on the court, which is why he is failing to get over the line in the semifinals of Grand Slams.

“Well, it was a lot more intense than it needed to be because Carlos had left 30 a bunch of times in the second set, could have been a 6-2 set, but Novak kept hanging in there,” said Navratilova. But it was, the ball was hit really hard, but there weren't that many great rallies. So I think Novak just didn't. I think the backhand wasn't quite cutting it. And I think he's not used to not being able to win more points on the first serve of Carlos. He was like 85% points when he won, when he got the first serve in. So he just kept pushing. Normally, it's Novak that doesn't give people room to breathe. And now it's Alcaraz, again, the tables have turned. He doesn't give you room to breathe. So I think Novak was feeling stressed and just didn't, couldn't really find an opening. the tables just have totally flipped on him and maybe he just doesn't know how to deal with that.”

Navratilova then spoke about how difficult it is to play at the highest level and compete against the best players on the tour. Navratilova gave her own example and stated that while it is fun to play at the end of your career, the results are just never the same because of your physical condition.

“I went through it and the effort is the same,” said Navratilova. “But the biggest thing is, I didn't feel that much slower, but I had to remind myself, it was a drop shot. I had to like, you better run. Whereas, you know, 10 years ago, you just run. You don't have to think about it. So it's not that you're that much slower, but the reaction is still there. It's like, oh, I got to go. And then you played the right point. You have finally had the right shot and you miss it when you could have made it with the eyes closed 10 years ago. So it just gets frustrating because the effort is there. The feeling is very good, but the result is not.”

The hosts then asked Navratilova whether she thought that Djokovic was really going to win against a player like Alcaraz, who has not lost a single set in the ongoing campaign. In response to that, Navratilova stated that she ‘ 100 percent’ thought that. “I mean, yes, you still think you can do it,” she said. “But everything has to go your way. But I absolutely thought that he could win. 100 percent.”