Djokovic: "I'm having a negative cycle"

Guillaume Nonque

le 12/03/2024 à 11h39

3 min to read

Djokovic Indian Wells Nardi

World no.1 Novak Djokovic suffered a big upset this monday in Indian Wells where he lost against the world no.123 Luca Nardi. The Serbian reacted to this defeat in press conference few minutes after the match.

Djokovic: "Congrats to Nardi. Particularly in the 3rd set, he played some great, great tennis. I watched him play before, I don't know much about him, but I knew that he possesses great quality tennis from the baseline, especially the forehand side. He moves well. Very talented. He came into the main draw as a 'Lucky Loser', so he really hadn't anything to lose. He played great and deserved to win.

I was more surprised with my level. My level was really, really bad. That's it. Things come together. He is having a great day, I'm having a really bad day. And result is a negative outcome for me.

I do play fewer tournaments, or I'm more selective with my schedule, so of course it's not a great feeling when you lose very early in a tournament. Especially here where I haven't played in 5 years. I really wanted to do well, but that's what it meant to be, so let's move on.

For the moment, Miami is there. But 10 minutes ago I was on the court so I'm still hot headed a bit. I'll take a day or two and then see what I wanna do next.

I helped him (Nardi) play well and I didn't help myself at all. I made some really terrible unforced errors, quite defensive tennis. And in the 3rd set, he just stept in, he used the time that he had, and he was playing more free and more agressive than I did. He was going for his shots and that break at 3-2 was enough. It was a bit windy conditions today, completely contraire to what I was having in my training sessions these days and first match. But still is not an excuse and I should have done much better but, again, credit to him for pullin it off.

I wasn't enjoying not playing in the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells + Miami) these last years. I really wanted to play. It's not like I made a mistake for coming here, I really wanted to come. I really enjoy being both Indian Wells and Miami.

I could have done everything better (against Nardi). As I said, very poor performance from my side. No title this year yet. That is not something I'm used to. I was starting the season, most of my carreer, with a Grand Slam win, or a Dubai win, or any other tournament. But it's fine. It's part of the sport, you just have to accept it. Some you win, some you lose.

Hopefully I'll win some more title. I'm still keep going and I guess every trophy that eventually comes my way is gonna be great (laugh). To break the kind of negative cycle that I'm having in the last 3 or 4 tournaments where I haven't really been close to my best."