Novak Djokovic ‘cracking’ as ex-tennis star points out one major change he’s noticed
Former world No 5 Jimmy Arias believes that Novak Djokovic is beginning to crack under pressure after his French Open quarter-final defeat to Rafael Nadal. The Serbian lost 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 to the eventual winner of the Major as Nadal won his 14th Roland-Garros title by defeating Casper Ruud in the final on Sunday.
Arias has noticed that Djokovic does not handle pressure as well as he used to and spotted the change over a year ago. “I think Novak [Djokovic] is cracking a little bit. It started with the US Open last year, I know he made the finals, but that whole tournament he was cracking. It shows how much he is thinking about history,” Arias told Tennis Channel’s Inside-In podcast.
Novak Djokovic ‘cracking’ as ex-tennis star points out one major change he’s noticed
“The only reason he was cracking was because he was thinking of the Calendar Grand Slam and if you remember that tournament, he was losing the first set every match. Then he had the strange start to the year with the Australian Open and everything that went on, and I just feel like maybe his days of locking down under extreme pressure will be difficult to find.
“I am not saying he won’t win Majors again, but it will be more difficult.
“I didn’t think Rafael Nadal would ride the ship after the second set [against Novak Djokovic]. We were a little worried about Nadal because of the foot problem, but as soon as I saw a match or two of Nadal, I thought, ‘Okay, wow’.”
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Nadal’s win in Paris moved him to 22 Grand Slam titles, two ahead of Djokovic and Roger Federer. After the Serbian’s defeat in the quarter-finals, he praised Nadal. “Congratulations to Nadal. He was a better player I think in important moments,” he said. “I didn’t start so great, 2-6, 0-3, double-break down.
