Andy Roddick saw some concerning signs in Novak Djokovic’s physical condition during the Serb’s Monte Carlo Masters exit as the American tennis legend was a bit stunned at how the match went.
After making a very slow start to the match and suffering two early breaks en route to losing the first set against Casper Ruud, Djokovic looked much better in the second set and easily forced a decider. But when the third set started, Djokovic dropped his serve early as Ruud opened an early 3-0 third-set lead.
Down by an early break in the decider, Djokovic managed to get the break back in the seventh game and serve out the following game to tie the decider to four games apiece. But just when it seemed that Djokovic bounced back and that he could create a big comeback, he allowed Ruud to clinch three consecutive match points in the 10th game – the Serb managed to save the first two set points but couldn’t save the third as the Norwegian sealed a 6-4 1-6 6-4 win.
Novak Djokovic © Getty Images Sport – Julian Finney
Analyzing the match, 2003 US Open champion Roddick was a bit stunned at how Djokovic went from looking exhausted to energetic and then reverting to looking exhausted.
Roddick saw something ‘concerning’ in Djokovic’s display versus Ruud
“The physical stuff, I don’t know what it is, but it’s concerning. You don’t see someone who’s exhausted early, gain on it throughout the match. I don’t know what that is,” Roddick said on Tennis Channel.
“In the first set, he looked exhausted, the rally would go past seven or eight balls and he was physically exhausted. We’re talking a 72° (F) day, 2,3-all in the first set or just a break down early and then he kind of found his pacing, came back.
“Then in the last game, he misses a first ball, misses a high volley by seven or eight feet. So, it was like, you’re supposed to know what’s going to happen based on history and it just didn’t. It felt like he was searching for something the whole week.”
Novak Djokovic © Getty Images Sport – Julian Finney
After the loss, Djokovic admitted that he was disappointed over the loss and acknowledged that the 2024 season hasn’t been up to his standard.
In a week, Djokovic will start his fifth tournament of the year in Madrid and hope that he can finally win his first title of the year there.
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