Novak Djokovic confesses he is worried heading into the Roland Garros as he was unable to explain his latest loss in the semis of Geneva ATP 250 event.
Djokovic shocked tennis fraternity by accepting the wildcard to play Geneva and now the manner of his loss versus Tomas Machac left huge question marks over the Serbian as the next stop is Paris where he is a defending champion.
The Czech recorded the biggest win of his career as he beat Djokovic 6-4, 0-6, 6-1 to reach his maiden Geneva final while Djokovic appeared clueless when he lost the third frame 6-1 after winning the second set 6-0. The 24-time Grand Slam champion showed the real signs that he was mentally and physically struggling in the decider.
The World No. 1 started the decider with a 3-1 lead and looked in command in the first set but his Czech opponent – who gave him some tough time in Dubai last year before losing – shifted gears in no time to take the first set.
The second set was all about Djokovic’s outrageous forehand winners that levelled the match in style by serving a bagel. The Serbian took the opening game of the decider but couldn’t hold afterwards as an unstoppable Machac proved too much for him to eventually post a 6-1 result to close the match.
The match ended with the World No. 1 exploding the unforced error count as he already started to think about the French Open where he is a 3-time champion. However one thing is clear that this is not the kind of form he hopes to display in Geneva with the legendary Serbian failing to describe another erratic display of play this season.
“Of course I’m worried. I haven’t played well at all this year, apart from a few matches here and there,” said Djokovic.
“Things are what they are. I don’t see myself as a favorite in Paris. I will try to take the matches one after the other.
“I didn’t have a great night, and today was tough. I had horrible feelings during the first part of the match. I don’t want to take any credit away from Tomas (Machac), who deserved his victory, but I don’t know what to think of this match. I prefer to forget it.
“I don’t know how I was able to win the second set either. I was hoping to play more than one match when I came here, and I played three. But I wish I could feel better.
“It’s not nice to suffer like that on the court. It’s hard to concentrate on tennis when you have other things on your mind. I just hope to be ready and in good health for Roland-Garros.”
The theory that Djokovic already finds a way to pull Houdini at a major irrespective of his form has been backed up by his heroics over the past years, however, this time round, he looks in unchartered territory more than ever.
His match against Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the R1 of the Roland Garros – a routine match for Djokovic – looks tough considering this version of the 37-year-old. Boris Becker is among those concerned about the form and fitness of Djokovic.
“Novak is not playing well and we are not used to seeing him like this, but do not write him off,” said Becker.
“He has not forgotten how to play tennis, of course not, but he is only playing for the majors now and trying to cover the time in between with a few tournaments is tough, but I think he will get his mojo back.
“He is coming back to Roland Garros, where he won last year and it’s always good to go back to somewhere where you have won last year.
“I know he hasn’t won this year, but he has won 24 majors so everyone will see a different Novak Djokovic when the first round starts at Roland Garros, I’m sure about that.”