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All is not well with Novak Djokovic.
In the press conference following his shock defeat to the world No.41 Sam Querrey in the third round of Wimbledon 2016, the 12-time Grand Slam champion would not elaborate on the exact problem.
He was gracious and effusive in his praise for Querrey, who won 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(5). But there was no mistaking that something unspoken was hanging in the air – some unknown factor playing a part in his reverse, which he is not yet willing to reveal.
Asked by Wimbledon.com if he had any reason for concern coming into the match, he replied only: “No. Why would I?”
That, indeed, is the question and only he has the answer. During the match, most especially throughout the second and fourth sets, he played as if his mind was elsewhere. The fourth set particularly saw him deliver a rash of thoroughly uncharacteristic errors.
Losing at a Grand Slam hurts more than any other tournament
Throughout his press conference, he repeatedly touched his left shoulder with his right hand – but it is guesswork whether that was suggestive of an injury, or merely an unconscious gesture as he spoke. Asked if he was “100 per cent healthy” going into the match, he prevaricated.
“Not really,” he admitted. “But it’s not the time or place to talk about it.” Another inquisitor put it to Djokovic that he “did not seem himself” at practice on Saturday morning.
“I don’t want to talk about that,” said Djokovic, without rudeness. “Please respect that. Thank you.”
Yet he left no doubt that he wants some space from tennis, for a few weeks at least.
“It’s disappointing, of course. Losing at a Grand Slam hurts more than any other tournament. There’s no doubt about that. Thankfully, I have a family and a life outside tennis. I have plenty to look forward to. I’m obviously going to pay more attention to those things than tennis in the next period. I need it. It’s been a very successful year so far, but a very long, exhausting one, in every sense of that word. I need some rest.
“It’s an amazing feeling obviously to hold all four Grand Slams at the same time. Coming into Wimbledon, I knew that mentally it would not be easy to remotivate myself. But the importance of this tournament is so immense that you always try to find ways to get inspired, and give your best. My best wasn’t enough this year.
“It’s not the first time that I’ve lost a Grand Slam match, or any match for that matter. I know what to do. First things first – put my mind at ease and just relax. Think about something different. I’m going to move on from this hopefully as a stronger player.”
Whatever the precise problem may be, two things at least were clear. Post-match press conferences are usually announced at least half-an-hour in advance, and often very much longer; but in this case Djokovic dived into the press room without any warning at all, confirming during the question-and-answer session that he wanted to get away from Wimbledon as quickly as possible.
And one more fact emerged – whatever the problem is, it is sufficiently significant that he will not play for Serbia in their Davis Cup tie against Great Britain later this month.
I don’t want to take anything out of victory for my opponent
“No, I’m not going to play,” he said, adding that he “has to think about” whether he will compete again before the Olympics. He was, however, courteous to the last.
“I don’t want to take anything out of victory for my opponent. The rain delays were the same for both of us. It’s not really necessary to talk about the interruptions. He played very well and he deserved to win. I had my chances in the fourth, serving for the set. I just wasn’t feeling the ball as well as I wished. But that’s sport.”
