Despite a 2022 full of difficulties, Novak Djokovic reiterated that he is the strongest player in the world. The former ATP number 1 paid dearly for his choice not to get vaccinated against the Coronavirus, having had to miss the Australian Open and the US Open.
The Serbian phenomenon suffered serious image damage due to the Australian soap opera, as well as having to give up all the American Masters 1000. The 35-year-old from Belgrade lifted his season by winning Wimbledon for the fourth time in a row, the seventh ever.
Nole also won the ATP Finals, the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, the ATP 500 in Astana and the ATP 250 in Tel Aviv. A couple of weeks ago, the news came that the ‘Djoker’ will be able to compete in the Australian Open 2023.
The local government has in fact lifted the three-year ban that weighed on his head. Goran Ivanisevic’s protégé will go in search of his tenth seal in Melbourne Park, which would allow him to catch Rafael Nadal at 22 Grand Slams.
Tipsarevic praises Djokovic
Janko Tipsarevic, captain of the Serbian national team at the North Palmyra Trophy, the controversial exhibition organized in Saint‐Petersburg, spoke about his compatriot Novak Djokovic. For him, everything is crystal clear and his friend has again silenced the critics.
“In my opinion, first of all, Novak Djokovic is the best tennis player of all time. And in the end, the bans did not stop him, quite the contrary. He won six or seven tournaments and finished in the top five in 2022. For me, he remains simply the best tennis player in the world.”
Novak Djokovic ended his 2022 season on a high, recapturing the ATP Finals crown after a long gap of seven years. “He’s practicing even harder than he was at 22,” Ivanisevic said. “That’s why he’s still so good.
You know, the will to practice to improve, the will to be better is amazing. He’s taking care of his body. In my time, we stop tennis at 31, you’re ready to leave… Look at Roger [Federer], couple years back. Look at Rafa [Nadal].
They’ll talk about young players, and it’s great for tennis. You have the youngest number one in the world, Carlos. But you know, look at Novak, he’s still hungry, still winning, he’s still playing unbelievable tennis.
Because of everything that happened this year, with Wimbledon this year, but this one [ATP title] is special,” Ivanisevic said. “The very tough year and then to finish the year like this and to win tournament like this after seven years.”
