"I'm happy that I'm back on track in terms of being able to play in tournaments" - Novak Djokovic ahead of Madrid Open campaign
Novak Djokovic has said that he is simply happy to be playing tournaments again after participating in only three events this year.
Ahead of his campaign at the Madrid Masters, the World No. 1 sounded pleased to have got a few matches under his belt at the Serbia Open last week. The 34-year-old is 5-3 on the year after making a run to the Belgrade final, where he lost to Andrey Rublev.
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Novak Djokovic has had a strange 2022 campaign. Due to his COVID-19 vaccination status, he was not allowed to defend his title at the Australian Open. The Serb made his season debut in Dubai, where he reached the quarterfinals, but was not allowed to compete in Indian Wells and Miami due to being unvaccinated.
The World No. 1 was beaten in his tournament opener in Monte-Carlo by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to drop to 2-2 on the year. However, he played four matches at his home tournament in Belgrade, where he got some much-needed game time.
"Well, I could have easily gone out in the first match of the tournament and had four three-setters that went, each one, over two and a half hours, so I was looking for some more competitive match play. I was looking to spend more time on the court, and that's what I got. So of course playing finals is a good result and I have to be positive about it," he said.
The Serb intends to play in Rome next week and at Roland Garros, where he'll be allowed to compete after France eased COVID-19 restrictions. Relieved to have clarity on his schedule, Djokovic hopes to peak in time for the French Open.
"I'm happy that I'm back on track in terms of being able to play in tournaments and, you know, having clarity in terms of schedule, where I need to go, where I can go, where I can peak and where I want to peak."
"Hopefully, I will be able to get the best out of myself, particularly in Grand Slams" - Novak Djokovic
Following on from Roland Garros, Wimbledon recently announced that unvaccinated players will be allowed to compete this year. That essentially means Novak Djokovic has the freedom to play a full clay and grasscourt schedule leading up to Wimbledon.
Wimbledon’s decision to allow players unvaccinated against Covid-19 to participate this year opens the way for Novak Djokovic, the No. 1-ranked men’s singles player who missed the Australian Open because he was unvaccinated, to enter the draw. nyti.ms/3LETomx
Djokovic, who intends to defend his title at SW19 later this summer, said:
"Obviously in clay that's Roland Garros, and then I can be also in London playing in Wimbledon, which is, of course, a very important tournament to me. I'm happy with the next few months, where I have an understanding and clarity where I can play. So hopefully I will be able to get the best out of myself, particularly in Grand Slams."
It remains to be seen if Djokovic recovers his mojo in Madrid and Rome ahead of his first Grand Slam appearance of the year in Paris.