Novak Djokovic waved goodbye, made a heart shape with his hands and blew kisses to the crowd as he walked off the court inside Arthur Ashe Stadium to a standing ovation. Back down on the court, Djokovic had his two black bags — one containing his rackets and the other more equipment — hanging from his shoulders. Among those applauding in return were Djokovic’s 11-year-old son Stefan, while his 8-year-old daughter Tara covered her eyes and loaded her floppy-eared stuffed animal into a bag that went around her shoulder.
After his first-round loss to Mariano Navone at the U.S. Open. Djokovic revived himself for a run to the semifinals at Wimbledon and then struggled again at the Cincinnati Open this month when he was beaten by 50th-ranked Thiago Agustin Tirante in his opening match. “A lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot. … Nerves and everything involved that make it worse. “Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. Yeah, the back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out.”
Open on Sunday night, it remains to be seen whether the 39-year-old Djokovic will ever bring those bags out on a court again for a professional match. The 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 loss marked Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit in two decades — dating back to the 2006 Australian Open — and the first time ever that he lost his opener at the U.S.
“I was barely standing on my legs toward the end of the match,” Djokovic said after getting beaten by Fonseca. After the loss to Tirante, Djokovic said an unspecified health condition made it difficult for him to play in hot and humid weather. “It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years,” Djokovic said. “It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year: vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic Reflects on Performance After Wimbledon Loss
Novak Djokovic expressed confidence in his abilities despite a semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon this year. After the match, he stated, ‘I feel when I’m healthy, I’m still able to play as a top-five player, still able to compete at the highest level.’ This statement underscores Djokovic’s belief in his competitive edge when fully fit.
