Novak Djokovic may be focused on his career but that does not mean he has not been eyeing the young players that are gaining prominence in his sport. In an interview during the Shanghai Masters, the Serbian star was asked about the younger players that are trying to break the dominance of the Big Three in Grand Slam and Masters singles tournaments.
Novak Djokovic all-praises for some young players
He particularly pointed at Stefanos Tsitsipas for his consistent performance in the events. While many people still group the Greek player with the so-called NextGen, Djokovic insisted that he should no longer be treated that way. He has already reached the world top 10 and has already proven that he is a good player.
He also enumerated Canadian stars Felix Auger Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, and Polish player Hubert Hurkacz. The world no. 1 believes that these particular players will be able to defeat almost any player during their best days. He also praised them for their commitment to the sport and their health, which he thinks is crucial for them to do well.
He also talked about the world no. 4 Daniil Medvedev, who a lot of people think could be the next legend in the sport. He pointed out that the Russian has qualified for the finals in a lot of events in the past few months, which bodes well for his career.
The fact that Djokovic is now openly talking about the up-and-coming players in male tennis is a refreshing change. Earlier this year, he expressed exasperation at the constant questions about younger players. He believed that fellow Big Three Players Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are unstoppable in the Grand Slams are because the victories are valuable to their longevity and relevance in the sport.
While expectations for him to do his best all the time can be a lot of pressure, Djokovic clarified that it comes with being No. 1. He regards it as a privilege and that it is a sign that a person like him is doing something important and inspiring.
Djokovic will face Tsitsipas in the quarters and probably Medvedev in the semifinal
Meanwhile, Djokovic has a difficult road towards the Shanghai Masters championship. As defending champion, he became the tournament’s top seed earlier this week.
He happened to also fall under one of the most competitive sections. He will face off Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals round of the tournament. If he defeats the young Greek, he will then have to defeat either Medvedev or Italian ace Fabio Fognini to qualify for the finals.
Djokovic in Shanghai, ranking, and results in 2019
Currently the world no.1, Novak has a 48-8 win-loss record in 2019. Djokovic is competing in Shanghai where he beat Denis Shapovalov 6-3 6-3 and John Isner 7-5 6-3.
Novak will come up against Tsitsipas in the quarter. The head to head is 1-1.
The last time that they squared off, Djokovic won 6-3 6-4 in the final in Madrid in 12th May 2019.
The Serbian conquered 4 titles in 2019 at the Australian Open, in Madrid, in Wimbledon and in Tokyo. The Serbian was the finalist in Rome.
Djokovic won 76 titles in his career: 44 on hard courts, 14 on clay courts, 12 on indoor courts and 6 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Tsitsipas in Shanghai, ranking, and results in 2019
Ranked no.7, Tsitsipas has a 43-21 win-loss record in 2019. Tsitsipas is now having a run in Shanghai where he bested Felix Auger Aliassime 7-63 7-63 and Hubert Hurkacz 7-5 3-6 7-65.
Tsitsipas conquered 2 titles in 2019 in Marseille and in Estoril. Tsitsipas was the finalist in Dubai, in Madrid and in Beijing.
Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas played each other 2 times. The head to head is 1-1.
The last time that they played, Novak Djokovic won 6-3 6-4 in the final in Madrid on 12th May 2019.
Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas |
