Novak Djokovic obtained his Indian Wells marketing campaign underway final night time, however struggled via his opening-round match.
He defeated Kamil Majchrzak, however needed to do it coming from behind after an error-strewn first set gifted his opponent the lead.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion unsurprisingly rallied again, and spoke after about the challenges of the tennis tour.
Interestingly, one reporter sought to get his views on best-of-five-set tennis particularly, with the WTA Tour having been tipped to adapt this format in the coming years.
Novak Djokovic had his say.
Novak Djokovic discusses best-of-five-set tennis
Asked to elucidate the struggles of five-set matches, he started by jokingly stating: “I don’t recommend (smiling).”
Djokovic then went on to assert: “It feels like when you’re preparing for a Grand Slam, you play best-of-five for us, it feels like you’re preparing for something completely different, completely different tour, different physical preparation and mental preparation.
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“Because some matches can go, you know, three, four, five, six hours. And I have played, you know, longest Grand Slam final in the history. I was part of that with Nadal in 2012, went almost six hours in Australia.
“So just gruelling. I mean, incredibly gruelling and demanding, and I played recently with Jannik, I don’t know what it was, almost, whatever it was, four-and-a-half, almost five hours in Australia.
“I mean, back in 2012, my body has recovered much faster than what is the case today after such a marathon, long matches. Yes, you do have a day between matches in Grand Slams, but when you have a match like that, that is, you know, four-, five-plus hours, it’s just taking a big toll on your physical condition. Very hard to recover and be able to, I guess, be ready for the next challenge.
“You might play well the next match, but then the longer you progress in the tournament, the physically more exhausted you are. That’s the big one. Obviously mentally, as well, of course. But physically, it’s a whole different animal, so to say, that you’re facing in Grand Slams compared to anything else that we have on the tour.”
Given Paula Badosa exclusively told Tennishead that she thought women were ready for best-of-five matches, it will likely be fascinating to see whether or not this monumental change is introduced into place anytime quickly, with Craig Tiley eager to make it occur.
The worst attainable begin for Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells
Given how meticulous Djokovic now’s along with his schedule, beginning Indian Wells on this style is not going to have been part of his plan.
After all, such a gruelling three-set conflict in his very first match will definitely not assist his restoration, or his possibilities of successful the title.
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The Serbian famous person is so selective with what match he performs, all in an effort to protect his physique and hopefully problem for the titles that matter to him.
So, undoing all that clever scheduling with a troublesome first-round match is more likely to frustrate him, marking the worst attainable begin to his Indian Wells marketing campaign.
