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Novak Djokovic had against in the quarterfinals Pablo Carreno Busta struggling with physical problems, especially in the beginning. Subsequently, the world number one was not too willing to provide information about a possible injury.
by Nikolaus Fink
Last edit: October 08, 2020 7:48 am
© Getty Images
Not many people in this world know Novak Djokovic as well as his former coach Boris Becker. When the German suggested a possible assignment for the world number one during the first set of the match against Pablo Carreño Busta, the Serbian fans had to expect the worst.
The 17-time Grand Slam winner was still shaking his left arm and was clearly struggling with neck problems. Two treatments at the beginning of the second series were the logical consequence. Following this, Djokovic seemed to continually improve, in rounds three and four the 33-year-old showed off the tennis that had taken him to the quarter-finals in impressive fashion and without dropping a set.
Djokovic shakes off problems
However, in the press conference that followed, the number one talking point was, of course, physical problems. Djokovic was not very willing to give information about a possible injury: “I had neck and shoulder problems. I will only say that. I am still in the tournament and I will not reveal too much.”
The father of two should reveal a bit more: “I definitely didn’t feel comfortable when I got to the court. Some things happened during the warm-up. I had to deal with these physical issues.” As the match progressed, Djokovic felt better and the lack of energy at the beginning gradually returned after a set and a half.
Carreño Busta: “That’s normal, isn’t it?”
His opponent Pablo Carreño Busta was not amused by the Serbian’s behavior. “That’s normal, isn’t it? He has always done it over the years when he had problems on the court,” said the Iberian, referring to the stretching of arms and neck. “Maybe it’s the pressure or something he has to do. But keep playing normally.”
Normal, that was definitely not Djokovic’s appearance early in the game. In addition to the physical complaints, Boris Becker attributed it to the mental makeup of his former protégé due to the incident in New York: Djokovic was disqualified in the match against Carreño Busta.
The world’s number one rejected that at the press conference: “It wasn’t at all. I don’t think so, zero percent.” It shouldn’t have been Becker’s only misjudgment.
Here is the individual chart of men.
