“To be honest, I’m not sure. My game just wasn’t there. I felt off. The conditions were different from what I was used to practicing in. It was a struggle to play and I felt like a beginner at times on the court.
“But that’s just part of sports. The Olympics took a lot out of me emotionally, and I even debated whether to come to New York or not. However, it’s a Grand Slam, so we have to keep moving forward.”
Looking ahead, Djokovic has his sights set on representing Serbia in the Davis Cup play-offs against Greece on 14-15 September, as playing for his country is a major source of motivation for him aside from Grand Slams.
Next on Djokovic’s schedule is the Shanghai Masters (30 Sep – 13 Oct), a tournament he last competed in back in 2019. Djokovic has a strong track record at the Shanghai Masters, having won four titles there, with his most recent victory in 2018. He is also looking forward to connecting with his Chinese fan base.
Following Shanghai, Djokovic will head to Saudi Arabia for the Six Kings Slam exhibition, where he will be competing alongside other top players for a massive prize pool. Following this event, Djokovic’s future plans are uncertain, as he has already ruled out participating in the Serbia Open in November.
Depending on his condition, Djokovic will make a decision on his participation in the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals in Turin, where he currently ranks seventh in the race. This season marks the first time since 2017 that Djokovic will end the year without a Grand Slam title.
“I had high hopes for Roland Garros, but then I got injured. I reached the Wimbledon final… The Olympics were my main focus, and I played some of my best tennis in Paris.
“If this year ends with an Olympic gold medal without a Grand Slam title, I’ll accept it because that gold medal has been a lifelong dream. This season has been my worst in terms of results in the last 15 years, and I feel that way too. It is what it is,” Djokovic concluded.
