Novak Djokovic dismisses injury fears ahead of ATP Finals
Novak Djokovic has dismissed any suggestion he is physically struggling ahead of the ATP Finals in Turin.
Djokovic lost out in the final of the Paris Masters to 19-year-old Holger Rune on Sunday, leaving many to wonder if he was carrying an injury in the deciding set, which he uncharacteristically lost from a break up.
He, though, says that was not the case, and he wouldnât wand to take anything away from Rune by allowing the suggestion to stand.
âI donât want to talk about that, because I know that you guys might take that as, you know, excuse or something like this why I lost,â Djokovic said.
âNo, everything was okay. I mean, itâs normal that when you play day after day and you have some tightness here and there, but I didnât have an injury. I fought till the last moment. So it wasnât to be for me today.â
Novak Djokovic will now head to Turin to attempt to win what would be a record-equalling sixth title. He says he is feeling in pretty good shape for it too.
âEvery tournament is important at this stage of my career,â he said. âAnywhere I play, I try to win. Thatâs not a secret.
âThatâs kind of my mentality and approach coming into Torino. I feel very good on the court. You know, I think Iâm playing very, very good tennis.
âOf course Iâm disappointed with the loss, but I was very close. It was just very few points that decided a winner. But the level of tennis that Iâm playing is high, and I like my chances. You know, of course every match is like finals there. You know, there is no easy matches.
âYouâve got to be fit, fresh. Good thing is that you have a day between every match in the group stage, so you have time to recover between each match, which is good.
âI played there last year. Played really good tennis. Played semis, tight match against Zverev, who was eventual champion. So I know that the conditions are different.
âThe ball is flying more because itâs altitude. Itâs quite fast. Youâve got to serve well. Iâll be there some days before to train, and hopefully be at my best.â
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