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NEW YORK — What motivates Novak Djokovic now that he has nothing left to combat for?
The 24-time Grand Slam champion lastly received his coveted Olympic gold medal in Paris this month. In so doing, he primarily accomplished tennis, sweeping up the one coveted title within the sport that had eluded him. Djokovic has different targets, just like the twenty fifth Grand Slam title that might take him away from Australia’s Margaret Court docket, however the Olympic gold was the true white whale for a participant who has gathered trophies like curiosity.
Not a lot just lately. He arrived in New York with out his title already engraved on one of many three majors for the primary time in 14 years.
Probably the most fascinating half is that he has been right here earlier than.
In 2016, in Paris, Djokovic lastly received the French Open. In so doing, he accomplished the profession Grand Slam, and have become the second male participant within the Open Period, after Rod Laver, to carry all 4 Grand Slam titles on the similar time.
Novak Djokovic’s 2016 French Open title put him out forward of his contemporaries. (Philippe Lopez / AFP through Getty Pictures)
It felt like he would keep it up dominating tennis without end. As a substitute, he bombed out of Wimbledon in opposition to Sam Querrey, after which didn’t win a significant for an additional two years in a interval that took in elbow surgical procedure and a few vastly uncharacteristic upsets, the mom of all comedowns.
“I wasn’t mentally in the correct place,” he stated later.
In 2024, the early indicators are that he’s working to keep away from a repeat. Djokovic was requested about his motivation forward of the match beginning, and he spoke of his rivalries with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, his advocacy work with the Skilled Tennis Gamers Affiliation (PTPA) and his perception in his competitiveness.
There may be little to be gleaned from a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 first-round cruise in opposition to the overmatched Radu Albot, however Djokovic — and the remainder of the tennis world — would possibly study extra from what awaits him Wednesday. He faces compatriot Laslo Djere, in a repeat of their fourth-round assembly in 2023. Djokovic trailed two units to like, ultimately coming by way of in 5 on the way in which to the title.
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Djokovic is in a curious place. He’s coming off what he calls the “biggest achievement” of his profession, however his season as a complete is extra trough than peak. Regardless of beating Alcaraz to win that Olympic gold, Djokovic has misplaced to the Spaniard in consecutive Wimbledon finals. Sinner overwhelmed him on the Australian Open, an occasion the place he had beforehand appeared invincible. The rivalries that inspire him are, as of just lately, not going to plan.
Novak Djokovic’s struggles date again to the clay-court swing. (Filippo Monteforte / AFP through Getty Pictures)
This might assist Djokovic. He lastly has two youthful rivals who’re at his degree, and he can be determined to reassert himself on the high of the game, vanquishing them like he has carried out so many gamers within the final 10 years. He often is the U.S. Open champion, however right here in New York, it’s reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz who has the most important goal on his again. It’s Sinner, not Djokovic, who’s world No. 1.
Djokovic likes nothing greater than proving a degree, and silencing those that have written him off. This isn’t like June 2016, when it virtually seemed too simple for Djokovic to dominate tennis, as he turned the “Large 4” to the “Large One.”
Simply over eight years in the past, there wasn’t even a suggestion that Djokovic’s motivation would wane. Looking back, it might sound apparent that attaining the tennis Holy Grail may event a lull, however on the time it wasn’t on the forecast.
Trying again at his pre-Wimbledon press conferences, Djokovic wasn’t requested about whether or not he’d wrestle for brand spanking new targets. Solely when he suffered that seismic shock of a defeat to American Sam Querrey did the subject emerge.
Novak Djokovic’s defeat to American Sam Querrey at Wimbledon is among the greatest shocks in current match historical past. (Adrian Dennis / AFP through Getty Pictures)
“It’s an incredible feeling to have the ability to maintain 4 Grand Slams on the similar time,” Djokovic stated that summer season. “Coming into Wimbledon, I knew that mentally it’s not going to be simple to form of re-motivate myself.”
Djokovic has since spoken of struggling an existential disaster in that interval.
“I used to be going by way of a interval the place I used to be actually searching for myself off the court docket,” he later mirrored. In the course of the defeat to Querrey, there have been a few rain delays, and Djokovic recollects asking his group to depart him alone in a room throughout one of many interruptions.
“I simply seemed on the wall and I used to be uninteresting. Actually, no drive within me,” he stated.
In a 2018 interview, he added that the accidents he suffered in the course of the earlier yr occurred when he was “experiencing some emotional imbalance.” He parted methods with Boris Becker on the finish of 2016, and had damaged up his group through the 2017 clay-court season in a bid to get well his drive to win matches. Djokovic even thought of retirement, as his motivation fully disappeared.
He has since been in a position to reframe this tough interval as a worthwhile studying expertise. He even stated he was “tremendous glad” to have been by way of it. If ever there was a time when that have would are available helpful, it could be now.
At 37, and nonetheless solely a few months on from knee surgical procedure, bodily somewhat than psychological challenges could current the firmest obstacles to Djokovic’s quest for renewed dominance. “I don’t have any limitations in my thoughts,” he stated at Wimbledon. “I nonetheless need to hold going and play so long as I really feel like I can play on this excessive degree.”
On the homecoming celebration in Belgrade that adopted the Olympics, Djokovic hinted that he had nothing left to win. “I really feel fulfilled, full, let’s rejoice!” he stated. Within the subsequent breath, he was opening up the opportunity of taking part in into his 40s, and defending his title on the 2028 Olympic Video games in Los Angeles.
There are some elements in his favor. His youngsters at the moment are at an age the place they’ll watch their father in motion, which appears to behave as a further inspiration, Djokovic weeping of their arms in Paris and creating a brand new and figuring out violin celebration for his daughter.
The Olympic gold was an event to rejoice for all the household. (Amin Mohammad Jamali / Getty Pictures)
Most of all, he has the game. One of many nice issues about being a tennis participant is that even once you’ve received all of it, there are all the time new challenges to beat. New photographs to develop, new ways to strive.
Towards Albot on Monday, Djokovic actually seemed motivated as he carried out a few of his celebration methods in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Breaking serve having been 40-0 down. Hitting the forehand tougher than seemingly any level in his profession. Sealing the second set with a second-serve ace. Why not? A second-round match in opposition to Djere on Wednesday might not be fairly the Olympic gold-medal match, however give Djokovic a court docket, an opponent and a crowd and he’ll nonetheless discover a level to show.
(High photograph: Erick W. Rasco / Sports activities Illustrated through Getty Pictures)