Novak Djokovic lost his opening match of the clay-court season at the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters and provided some insights after the match.
The 34-year-old world number 1 lost to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in three sets after almost three hours. After playing only three matches in the 2022 season so far, it looked like stamina might be one of the main problems that Novak Djokovic would be facing.
"I always believed that I could come back and win the match, and I stayed there even though a lot of things were against me in terms of how I felt on the court."
"Game-wise, physically I was just far from my best. So of course in those types of conditions and circumstances, then you have to really work two times more than you normally would."
"And again, I played a clay-court specialist. He had a match already on centre court a few days ago. I expected this match to be a really tough match, a physical battle, and that's what it was. Unfortunately I'm on the shorter end of the stick, and my week ends here."
Djokovic will now need to focus on the rest of the clay-court season when winning a 21st Grand Slam title at the 2022 Roland Garros might be one of his main objectives for the season.
"I knew a few days ago when I spoke to you that it's going to take some time for me to really feel my best on the clay. That's historically always been the case. I have never played very well in the opening tournaments of the clay season."
"I didn't like the way I felt physically in the third. I just ran out of the gas completely. Just couldn't really stay in the rally with him. I mean, if you can't stay in the rally, not feeling your legs on the clay, it's mission impossible."