As the tour continued in March, he was unable to enter the United States, due to his unvaccinated status, to compete in the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells, California, and Miami Gardens, Fla. Back in action, he fought in the first events on clay before winning in Rome and then failed to achieve the high marks required in his quarterfinal defeat at the French Open against Rafael Nadal, his lifelong rival.
“Certainly this year has not been the same as in recent years,” Djokovic said. “It started as it started and it definitely affected me in the first months of the year. I didn’t feel great in general. I mean mentally, emotionally, I wasn’t in a good place.
“I wanted to play, but at the same time when I went out on the Dubai court, which was the first tournament of the year, I felt a lot of pressure and excitement. I didn’t feel on the court. At that moment I realized that it would take a time, that I have to be patient and that sooner or later I will put myself in the state, the optimal state, where I would like to be ”.
Wimbledon, once again, turned out to be the tonic. It was where he regained his humor when he came out of the biggest fall of his career to win in 2018. And while he continues to play a lovely little turf tennis, skipping all the initial official tournaments on the surface, was Once again, he was able to find his point and reach in a hurry to win his 21st major individual title, one behind the Christmas record.
Gorok Ivanisevic, Djokovic’s coach and former Gencic student and Wimbledon champion, was with Djokovic in Australia although he was never arrested.
“It was a huge thing that happened to him,” Ivanisevic said, explaining that while many expected him to return to training camp just after deportation, “it’s not happening like that.”