Novak Djoković

[Damian]

[Art]

[Damian]

[Damian]

[DUN I LOVE]

@Kamileki, zaskoczył Novak znajomością chińskiego.

[Kamileki]

@Kamileki, zaskoczył Novak znajomością chińskiego.

Zawsze znał.

[Robertinho]

Na każdej płaszczyźnie miażdży GOAT, również lingwistycznej.

[Bombardiero]

[Art]

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Djokovic previews 2024: 'I want to break more records'

Spoiler:

World No. 1 is representing Serbia at United Cup
January 02, 2024
Novak Djokovic has won a record 24 major titles.COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images
Novak Djokovic has won a record 24 major titles.
By Dan Imhoff
Novak Djokovic encounters few on-court novelties at this point in his career, but ringing in the new year with his compatriots surrounded by thousands of faithful followers at Perth’s RAC Arena comes as a welcome surprise.

There were no signs of rust in the 36-year-old’s clinical straight-sets dismissal of China’s big-striking Zhang Zhizhen at the United Cup, before he steered the ship home alongside Olga Danilovic in a deciding mixed doubles with just seven minutes left on the clock before midnight.

“It's a great start of the season. Wonderful way to celebrate New Year's,” Djokovic said. “We have a saying in Serbia: if the entire year is going to be as kind as the sunrise or the first minute of the new year, then I think we're going to have a great season and great year, all of us.”

Introducing... TEAM SERBIA

Spearheaded by the World No. 1 @DjokerNole, they will be hoping they can go all the way! #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/tN5ki6cDjZ


Teammate Danilovic declared her bucket-list item ticked off having now played and won a match alongside her nation’s greatest athlete. Questions invariably shifted to Djokovic’s goals for the season ahead.

“Obviously Grand Slams, Olympic Games, playing for my country, Davis Cup, all these competitions where you represent Serbia is the greatest honour and pleasure,” said Djokovic, who ended last season by winning a record seventh Nitto ATP Finals title.

“It's a very long year, season. I'll have to obviously work in a way step by step with my body to see how it feels, how I react when I change surfaces, what kind of schedule I need to have in order to peak at the right time in the biggest tournaments.”

You May Also Like:Danilovic/Djokovic earn United Cup triumph for Serbia after dramatic doubles win
Nothing was left to chance as the Serbian fine-tuned over time how he maximised chances of success on the biggest stages.

Even on the back of a year in which he reached all major finals and won three of them, the Serbian only dared rate it one of his best.

“Might seem unrealistic or impossible to some. It might seem arrogant to some others. I don't know,” he said. “I've always believed in myself very strongly. I know that I'm a very all-around player.

“When I'm fit, when I'm at the peak of my performance, I can win any Slam or any tournament. I know that. I'm not afraid to say that.

“It's not a secret that I want to break more records and make more history of the game. That's something that keeps on motivating me.”

Three times has the World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings reached all four major finals in the same season – including twice in the past three years – only to have fallen short at one stop.

It stood to reason he knew exactly what needed to be done to keep his body, mind and spirit aligned for the best opportunity to add further records.

“I feel like that kind of mentality, all I have been doing for the last 20-plus years on a daily basis, of course with my team and family, have helped me to reach the heights and be where I am,” he said. “That mentality is not changing for 2024 or any next year potentially that I play.”

Djokovic will continue to lead Serbia at the United Cup before he heads to Melbourne, where he will aim to win a record-extending 11th Australian Open title.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/djokovi ... ure-monday

[Damian]

Djokovic-led Serbia sets Australia QF

Spoiler:

Serbia beats Czech Republic 2-1
January 02, 2024
Hamad Medjedovic and Olga Danilovic discuss tactics on Tuesday in Perth.Colin Murty/AFP via Getty Images
Hamad Medjedovic and Olga Danilovic discuss tactics on Tuesday in Perth.
By ATP Staff
With the pressure on, Serbia found a way to reach the quarter-finals at the United Cup on Tuesday when they edged past Czech Republic in the decisive mixed doubles match.

Olga Danilovic and Hamad Medjedovic walked onto court against Czechs Miriam Kolodziejova and Petr Nouza needing to win one set to advance to the last eight. After losing the opener, Danilovic and Medjedovic rallied to earn a dramatic 4-6, 7-5, 10-8 win.

Roared on by Novak Djokovic and the rest of the team, Danilovic and Medjedovic produced big-time tennis to win Group E and set a quarter-final clash against Group C winners Australia on Wednesday night. Group A winners Poland will play best runner-up in Perth China in Wednesday’s other quarter-final tie in Perth.

Earlier, Djokovic overcame a tricky test from Jiri Lehecka to level the tie. The World No. 1 struggled with a wrist problem throughout the match and recovered from a second-set dip, where he squandered a 3-1 lead, to eventually defeat the 22-year-old 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-1 in two hours and 18 minutes.

Competing in his second match of the new season, Djokovic struggled to find his best level at times inside the RAC Arena. After an inconsistent second set, he received a medical timeout on his wrist and looked to hit with more comfort on his forehand in the decider. He overpowered Lehecka in the third set, reducing errors to win six of the final seven games and earn victory in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with the World No. 31.


Djokovic holds a standout record in Australia, having won the Australian Open a record 10 times. The 36-year-old has not lost in the country since 2018, when he fell to Hyeon Chung at the hard-court major. Djokovic is making his United Cup debut this week.

You May Also Like:Djokovic previews 2024: 'I want to break more records'
Danilovic, 22, was facing a Top 10 player for just the third time in her career, and fell short of her second win in just over two hours on court. Her best victory by ranking came against then-No. 10 Julia Goerges at the 2018 Moscow River Cup, a tournament she famously won as a 17-year-old lucky loser.

Vondrousova, meanwhile, bounced back after losing to Zheng Qinwen in three sets in the Czechs' 3-0 loss to Saturday. But it didn't come easily for the reigning Wimbledon winner and World No. 7 against an opponent ranked more than 110 places below her.


After a first set that was closer than the scoreboard indicated - Danilovic had a break point in the first game, two more in the third, and two game points in the sixth - the Serb won 12 of the first 14 points of the second set to stake her claim to a 3-0 lead. Though Vondrousova hit back to win three straight games of her own, Danilovic won the next four to not only pocket the middle set, but go up a break to start the decider.

The Czech won five straight games from there, and though she failed to serve out the match in her first attempt at 5-1, she made no mistake in the second.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/serbia- ... d-cup-2024

[Damian]

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[Damian]

[Art]