By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Picture redit: Oakberry
Atlas carries the world on his shoulders at Rockefeller Heart in New York Metropolis.
Novak Djokovic will solidify his standing as Tennis Hercules if he hoists the US Open trophy—and a record-extending twenty fifth Grand Slam crown—subsequent month, says Corridor of Famer Chrissie Evert.
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Former world No. 1 champions Evert and John McEnroe carried out a Zoom name with the media yesterday selling ESPN’s first ball to final ball US Open protection for the tenth consecutive 12 months.
Predominant-draw motion begins on ESPN at midday on Monday, August twenty sixth.
A key query in New York: Will Djokovic be empowered by successful Olympic gold for Serbia to meet his nation’s dream?
Or will the 37-year-old Serbian celebrity exhausted by his June knee surgical procedure, his distinctive effort reaching the Wimbledon remaining, adopted by a really emotional Olympics triumph and festive celebration in Belgrade?
Evert, who calls the world No. 2 probably the most pushed individual she’s ever met, says do not doubt Djokovic in New York as he chases a milestone one centesimal profession championship and second straight US Open crown.
“That will be epic if he may do this. However he is a pushed individual,” Evert mentioned of Djokovic. “He is a really pushed individual past anyone that I’ve ever seen.
“He is had quite a lot of ups and downs in his life, in his marriage, in his private relationships, I feel, due to being so pushed. He additionally has labored all the things out. He is a communicator and he works issues out.”
Eighteen-time Grand Slam champion Evert mentioned emotionally and mentally Djokovic “appears to be in the very best place he is been in a very long time proper now.”
“I feel it could be like Herculean if he wins this match and will get to 25,” Evert mentioned. “I imply, I feel fingers down he must be the best participant ever, male participant ever. I feel he already is in lots of people’s minds.
“I simply suppose for him even to have received the Olympics, after what he went by means of with the surgical procedure, with seemingly Alcaraz beginning to take over, beginning to get his quantity as he did at Wimbledon, for him to return again and discover that resilience and discover that degree of tennis, that truly we’ve not seen the entire 12 months, as a result of he hasn’t received a match the entire 12 months, it was like a fairy story.”
Former world No. 1 Andre Agassi calls Djokovic “the very best returner I’ve ever seen.”
Former world No. 1 John McEnroe calls Djokovic “the very best mover on a tough court docket I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Former world No. 1 Evert cites a key high quality to Djokovic’s continued success: Karma.
Seeing Djokovic persevere by means of a lot crap in his profession—being castigated by critics, branded “too tender” early in his profession by some opponents and doubted and denigrated at instances by fervent followers of his rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer—Evert says the Serbian has Karma on his aspect and deserves all he is achieved as a result of he is labored so laborious for all of it.
“It was a fairy story,” Evert mentioned of Djokovic’s Olympic win. “However you recognize what? I consider in karma.
“This man has labored his butt off his entire life, put up with so much from press and from being form of [viewed as] the unhealthy man with Federer and Nadal. He deserves it. He deserves all of it.”
Can Djokovic conjure On the spot Karma in New York subsequent week?
That can be one of many high storylines to look at at this US Open.
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