© Getty Pictures Sport – Daniel Pockett
Former Australian Open event director Paul McNamee fears Novak Djokovic could also be coping with one thing after by no means seeing a participant’s staff field “so involved” regardless of its participant being up massive.
Within the Australian Open round-of-16, Djokovic dismantled world No. 19 Adrian Mannarino 6-0 6-0 6-3. Rating-wise, it was an important day on the workplace for defending Australian Open champion Djokovic.
However McNamee, who was the Australian Open event director from 1995 till 2006, observed one thing very unusual with Djokovic main 5-0 within the first set. After seeing the reactions from coach Goran Ivanisevic and the remainder of the staff, McNamee concluded that Djokovic “was clearly not effectively.”
Additionally, McNamee believes Djokovic extraordinary psychological power did its job towards Mannarino however stays involved that “there will likely be limits.”
“In all my time, I’ve by no means seen a participant field so involved at 5 love up first set than Goran & co in Djokovic’ field… he’s clearly not effectively… what psychological fortitude to have the ability to push by means of it, however there will likely be limits,” McNamee wrote on X.
In all my time, I’ve by no means seen a participant field so involved at 5 love up first set than Goran & co in Djokovic’ field… he’s clearly not effectively…what psychological fortitude to have the ability to push by means of it, however there will likely be limits
— 🎗️ Paul McNamee (@PaulFMcNamee) January 21, 2024
Is Djokovic injured?
Main as much as the Australian Open, Djokovic handled a wrist damage nevertheless it has appeared advantageous to this point throughout this Australian Open.
After kicking off his Melbourne Park run with back-to-back four-set wins over Dino Prizmic and Adrian Mannarino, Djokovic sealed a straight-set win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry. After his first straight-set win at this yr’s Australian Open, Djokovic revealed that he has been battling “a daily viral an infection.”
On Tuesday, document 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic will likely be taking up Taylor Fritz within the Australian Open quarterfinal. In opposition to Twelfth-ranked Fritz, Djokovic has an ideal 8-0 head-to-head.
In 2021, Djokovic famously overcame a mid-match stomach tear to beat Taylor Fritz within the Australian Open third spherical earlier than he additionally went on to win the event.
It stays to be seen how will Djokovic look on the courtroom towards Fritz and if he can clinch his ninth win over the American for a semifinal spot at Melbourne Park.
