Novak Djokovic, the defending champion chasing a record-breaking 10th Australian Open title, seemed to be showing some vulnerability by dropping a set in each of his previous two rounds in Melbourne.
No, but I played better than I did in the first two rounds, so that’s a positive change, I guess Novak Djokovic
While his rivals might think that he is more vulnerable than usual, the Serb showed that they were mere blips as he took out Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3 6-3 7-6(2) and, while he didn’t drop a set, he was extended over two-hours and 28-minutes and required a tie-break in the third to secure his place in the last 16.
In addition he did admit during his post-match press conference, that he isn’t at his best!
“No, but I played better than I did in the first two rounds, so that’s a positive change, I guess,” Djokovic said.
“Starting to feel better game-wise and physically, as well. It’s positive signs. I still haven’t been playing at my best. Well, it’s not always a positive pep talk. There’s a lot of trash talk happening inside of my head. I guess it’s part of the game. It’s part of who I am. I mean, I’m quite certain that everyone goes through their crisis moments, particularly in the matches where they don’t feel their best and they have doubts.
“The question is how you overcome those doubts and focus on being in the present and trying to get the most out of yourself for the next point. I do have extrovert kind of personality. I show my emotions – not always – but it does happen. When I show the bad side of my emotions, it’s ugly and it’s not something I enjoy. It is what it is. I’m trying to fight the demons that I have, as anybody else, on the court.
“Sometimes it works better. Sometimes not so great. You just have to accept the circumstances, depending on how you feel against certain opponent on the given day. Sometimes you just wake up not feeling great, and you start to doubt that you can win a match or play well. Those are some of the things you have to deal with mentally during the match.”
His personality and his lack of popularity was also raised.
“I knew and I know today that you can’t have everyone liking you, who you are, how you play, how you behave, what you talk about. It’s normal. We’re all different. We are all different preferences.”
Djokovic added he was all for the younger players, like Ben Shelton, expressing how they feel but he thinks sometimes it borders on being annoying,
“As far as Shelton’s level of confidence and coming out, I don’t mind that actually at all. I think it’s great. You got to believe. I’m all for that,” Djokovic stated.
“I support 100% a young player coming out on the court, like Prizmic did the other night against me, and Shelton is doing coming out believing in his capabilities that he can challenge the best players in the world. I don’t dislike that at all. But there is obviously some kind of line, non-visible line, of acceptable behaviour I guess towards the other player.
“If a player steps over that line, then obviously it starts being annoying. That’s when you react or you don’t react, whatever. It just depends. But I’m all for young players showing confidence and speaking, always with respect, towards the older guys who are on the tour, but being confident in themselves and their tennis.”
The American Shelton would have been his next opponent and put up a strong fight before submitting after four-hours and 46-minutes – the longest match of the day – 7-6(4) 1-6 6-7(2) 6-3 6-4 to the Frenchman Adraian Mannarino.
Adrian Mannarino is he Serbian’s next opponent.
(Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)
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