"In him I saw a component that in my life I have never seen in other players, and I was alongside Boris Becker, Michael Stich or Goran Ivanišević" - Nikola Pilić on Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic's game has always drawn incredible praise from his peers and former players.
Former Croatian player Nikola Pilic was the latest to heap praise on the Serb's well-rounded game. Speaking to UBI Tennis, Pilic said Djokovic physical ability separated him from even legends like Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic. Pilić, in an interview, said:
"Novak is a formidable player. Right now I can't say if he's number one, three, eleven or seventeen, but he's definitely a special player. In him I saw a component that in my life I have never seen in other players, and I was alongside Boris Becker, Michael Stich or Goran Ivanišević. Novak, however, had something more than the others. He always had a physical form that allowed him to stay six hours at the camp without getting tired: this is incredible."
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Congratulations @AndreyRublev97, a pleasure to share the court and have you in Belgrade. Thank you to the entire @SerbiaOpen2022 organization and the fans, family, and players that all made this event so special 😃🇷🇸. See you next year 👍🏼🙌🏼🎾❤️ #SerbiaOpen #NoleFam https://t.co/Q0RLJsVT21
"He has always said that he does not want to get vaccinated" - Pilić commends the character shown by Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic has had a stop-start 2022 season thus far as his decision to not get the COVID-19 vaccination prevented him from competing in certain events. Djokovic was unable to defend his title in Australia due to the visa controversy. The Serb also missed out on the Sunshine Double due to similar visa issues due to being unvaccinated against COVID-19.
However, he is seemingly back in the flow of things as the Serb reached the final of his home tournament in Belgrade, where he lost to Andrey Rublev in three sets.
A point that ONLY Novak Djokovic can win
https://t.co/ZRzfsEdimE
Nikola Pilić said he respects Novak Djokovic's decision not to get vaccinated, but hopes that the episode in Australia doesn't occur again. Pilić said:
"As for the vaccine, he has a very strong character: if he wants to do something (or does not want in this case), it is difficult to move him from his position. He has always said that he does not want to get vaccinated, this is his character and his idea. For me, however, it is a pity, no one could have known that Covid would come. In any case, what happened in Australia is something I don't want to see with any player anymore: it is not possible that a tennis player who has won the Australian Open nine times is not played."