Former tennis legend Jimmy Connors says he believes Novak Djokovic is attempting to employ reverse psychology with his Wimbledon final loss. The American confesses that he was surprised by Djokovic’s remarks regarding Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
It was Djokovic’s second consecutive year losing the Wimbledon championship match to reigning champion Alcaraz.
It was among Djokovic’s poorest performances in recent times, and he acknowledged after the match that he is just not as good as Sinner or Alcaraz.
During the post-Wimbledon press conference, Djokovic stated: “Being able to reach the final of Wimbledon gives a great confidence boost. But I also feel like in a matchup against the best player in the world right now for sure, other than Jannik, both of them are the best this year by far, and I feel like I’m not at that level. In order to really have a chance to, I guess, beat these guys in the Grand Slam latter stages or Olympics, I’m going to have to play much better than I did and feel much better than I did.”
But according to Connors, Djokovic’s admission that he can’t equal Alcaraz and Sinner right now astonished him since it makes him feel weak. Connors stated his remarks about it and said: “Man, I would never admit that. That’s just me. I would think that, from the inside of me, I’d be saying I’m going to do everything to try and stay up there and compete with them. And to be as good as I could to match them, as opposed to saying I am not on their level.”
He added: “And against a Sinner or an Alcaraz, to say well, I’m not on your level; maybe it’s reverse psychology that he’s throwing out there that, then if I win, I’m superhuman! Sometimes, we always talk about confidence and the mental aspect of this; you don’t want everyone to go in feeling defeated.”
🗣️Jimmy Connors on Novak Djokovic’s Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner confession: “Maybe it’s reverse psychology that he’s throwing out there that, then if I win, I’m superhuman!”#tennis #novakdjokovic #jimmyconnorshttps://t.co/DZ5UQevQFt
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Novak Djokovic in 2024
Ranked no.2, Novak played his last match on the 14th of July when he lost to world no.3 Carlos Alcaraz 6-2 6-2 7-6(4) in the final in Wimbledon (draw).
This year the Serbian owns a compiled 23-7 win-loss record. Novak Djokovic’s latest run in Wimbledon was the best achievement of his season.
Djokovic will compete next in Montreal (National Bank Open). He will begin to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 5th of August.
Jannik Sinner in 2024
Currently the world no.1, the Italian played his last match on the 9th of July when he was overcome by world no.5 Daniil Medvedev 6-7(7) 6-4 7-6(4) 2-6 6-3 in the quarter in Wimbledon (draw).
Currently, during this year the Italian has an overall 42-4 win-loss record. Sinner conquered 4 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami and Halle.
Sinner has scheduled to play next in Montreal (National Bank Open). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 5th of August.
Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner played each other 7 times. The head to head is 4-3 for Djokovic. Before, the last time they squared off, Jannik Sinner won 6-1 6-2 6-7(6) 6-3 in the semifinal in Melbourne (Australian Open) on the 26th of January 2024.
In the video below you can watch the highlights.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2024
Now ranked no.3, Carlos played his last match on the 14th of July when he defeated world no.2 Novak Djokovic 6-2 6-2 7-6(4) in the final in Wimbledon to win his 16th career title.
This season Carlos has a 33-6 record. The Spaniard clinched 3 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells, French Open and Wimbledon.
Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz |
Embed from Getty Images |