Novak Djokovic disclosed the extent of the stomach issue that threatened his chances of winning the Paris Masters last week while describing why he refused to fold and retire.
Despite experiencing health issues, Djokovic wrapped up another amazing tournament in Paris-Bercy, taking home a record-extending seventh trophy at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
Following his three-set victory over Tallon Griekspoor last Thursday, Djokovic initially acknowledged that he was feeling under the weather when he said: “It’s hard to have a clear mind when you spend more time on the toilet seat than on the court the last three days. The energy levels were very low the last few days, and I’m taking it day by day. Today is probably the worst day, so I’m just hoping that tomorrow will be better and that the curve will start going in the right direction for me.”
A journalist asked 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic after the match for advice on how to get over a stomach virus because his wife was having trouble with one. Djokovic smiled in response.
Djokovic revealed his physical health and said: “And then, of course, you feel dizzy; you feel dehydrated all the time. You feel weak. But I guess, you know, for a professional athlete, once you are out on the court, it’s basically very clear. Either you let the circumstances and the feelings that you have at that moment master you, or you try to master them in some way. So there’s no in-between. So you either fold, retire, or just, you know, kind of give away the match, or you try to draw the energy from the adrenaline that you’re feeling from the crowd, from the momentum that you’re feeling on the court.”
He concluded his discussion: “That’s what kind of helped me to have extra, I think, extra push, extra energy this week. I experience stomach bugs like anybody else. Maybe for me it lasted shorter than for your wife; I’m not sure, but it was three or four days of big struggle. So Sunday was the first day that I have actually felt that it’s behind me.”
Novak Djokovic in 2023
LWWWWWWLWW Ranked no.1, the Serbian played his last match on the 5th of November when he beat world no.14 Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 6-3 in the final in Paris to win his 97th career title.
Until now, during this year Novak has a 51-5 match record. Djokovic clinched 6 titles in 2023 in Adelaide, Australian Open, French Open, Cincinnati, U.S. Open and Paris. The Serbian got to the final in Wimbledon.
Novak Djokovic |
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