Djokovic, like his career-long reference factors Nadal and Roger Federer, has underscored his ardour with long-running excellence and by persistently ignoring the hints that his peak years could be behind him.
For Djokovic, this has been a season and a problem like no different: His determination to stay unvaccinated in opposition to the coronavirus led to a standoff with Australian authorities that ended along with his deportation on the eve of this yr’s Australian Open, and it saved him out of the Masters 1000 occasions in Indian Wells, Calif., and Miami Gardens, Fla., in March.
However with the well being protocols now relaxed in Europe, Djokovic returned to common motion on clay final month. Although he struggled in his preliminary matches along with his timing and his endurance, he has slowly however convincingly resumed hitting his targets, and he has gathered momentum simply in time for Roland Garros.
“I all the time attempt to use these sorts of conditions and adversity in my favor to gasoline me for the subsequent problem,” he stated of Australia. “As a lot as I’ve felt stress in my life and my profession, that was one thing actually on a complete totally different stage. However I really feel it’s already behind me. I really feel nice on the court docket. Mentally as properly, I’m contemporary. I’m sharp.”
Towards Tsitsipas, the hirsute Greek star who pushed Djokovic to 5 units earlier than dropping final yr’s French Open closing, Djokovic managed a lot of the baseline rallies with as a lot persistence as panache. When Tsitsipas did not serve out the second set, Djokovic proved the extra dependable power within the tiebreaker, completely content material, it appeared, to attend for Tsitsipas to crack.
“To some extent, it’s a reduction as a result of after all the things that occurred at first of the yr, it was essential for me to win a giant title,” Djokovic stated.
