Djokovic keeping “expectations low” ahead of crucial Monte-Carlo Masters
The Serb has endured an underwhelming start to the season and enters Monte-Carlo without a title, with his last appearance being a shock defeat to Luca Nardi at Indian Wells
Tennis – ATP Masters 1000 – Monte Carlo Masters – Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France – April 11, 2023 Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in action during his second round match (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)
The 2024 Monte-Carlo Masters holds greater significance for Novak Djokovic this time around than in previous years, given how rare it is that he arrives at the Monte-Carlo Country Club with no titles for the season.
Indeed, this will be just the second time in six years that this has happened – the last time being in 2022, following Djokovic’s deportation from Australia in January and his inability to compete in the US for the ‘Sunshine Double’.
It is therefore fair to say, particularly for a player of such extraordinary standards, that 2024 has not gone quite to plan for the Serb thus far.
After another record-breaking season last year, Djokovic finished 2023 looking as imperious as ever. Yet, three months into the new season and the world No 1 finds himself without a title or a final, and a win-loss record of 8-3. During that time, his winning streaks in Australia and at the Australian Open were both broken, while he suffered a shock defeat to qualifier Luca Nardi in Indian Wells.
With his No 1 ranking position looking precarious against the threat of the ever-surging Jannik Sinner and the irrepressible Carlos Alcaraz, Monte-Carlo represents a crucial juncture in Djokovic’s season. As the path to Roland-Garros officially gets underway in Monaco, Djokovic will be aware that he needs to reassert authority over his young challengers sooner rather than later.
Despite being a two-time champion at the tournament, the first clay-court Masters 1000 event of the season has often been a challenging hunting ground for Djokovic, especially since his previous title triumph there back in 2015.
“My expectations are not very high,” the Serb said ahead of the start of the tournament tomorrow.
“With the way I have been playing this year at the tournaments and also the results I had in Monaco in previous years were not great, so I keep my expectations low.
“For me it is about building my game on clay courts and trying to reach the peak again. For some players like myself, requires a little more time to reach the top level of tennis.
“Earlier in my career I was doing better in Monte-Carlo. I won titles in 2013 and 2015, quite a long time ago. The last five or six editions here have not been that successful and I am always hoping that could change.
“I am going into the tournament with enthusiasm and excitement that I am here. I didn’t play in Miami, so had extra time to practise on clay and get my body and game adjusted to this surface so let’s see how it goes.”
monte-carlo a tournament close to Djokovic’s heart, despite recent struggles
Despite having not gone further than the quarter-finals since his last title there in nine years, Monte-Carlo remains the closest thing Djokovic has to a big home tournament. He has lived in Monaco with his family for most of his life, and the event holds a special place in the Serb’s heart.
“I always love playing in Monte-Carlo. It has been a residence of mine for many years”, Djokovic explained.
“Both of my children were born in Monte-Carlo, so I consider it a home and a place where I spend countless hours of training in this club.
“I know people working on the courts and it feels comfortable. It is added pressure when you want to play your best in a home environment. Also the fact that clay is the most demanding surface in my sport.”
a successful monte-carlo more crucial than ever for djokovic this year, while challenges are greater
There are undeniable vulnerabilities to the world No 1’s game that have arguably not been present since a mid-career crisis between 2016 and 2018. But there is not yet any cause for real alarm among Djokovic’s camp or his legion of fans.
Indeed, just last year, the Serb was struggling for any sort of form or momentum across the clay-court stretch leading up to Roland-Garros, prompting the usual premature concerns of decline.
Just a few weeks later and he won a men’s record 23rd Grand Slam title in Paris.
Yet, both the stakes and the challenges this time around do feel higher.
For one thing, the standard of his opposition has increased again – Sinner is as much, perhaps more, of a threat as Alcaraz this year, while burgeoning talents from lower down the rankings continue to ask questions about the future of men’s tennis.
“Jannik is the best player in the world this year so far,” Djokovic said of the Italian.
“He has had tremendous success. He has improved a lot. Overall his game, his serve, his movement and mentally he is always there… (He is) more of a big time player.”
The other big difference to 2023 is that Djokovic is without the buffer of having already sealed a Grand Slam title, as he had done this time last year.
Failure to win Monte-Carlo this week is by no means a crisis, but another surprise early exit to lesser-ranked opposition and the mood surrounding Djokovic’s season so far will only darken.
While expectations remain low, Djokovic will be all too aware that this is a Monte-Carlo he can ill afford to struggle at in the manner of recent seasons gone by.
Sooner rather than later, the serial winner needs to start winning again. If not, Sinner and Alcaraz will take the reigns and run with them.
They may prove very difficult to catch once that happens.
