BELGRADE — Sitting out last week’s Miami Open was rejuvenating for Novak Djokovic although it meant missing the chance to win a record seventh title in the tournament, Serbia’s world No. 2 said on Tuesday.
Djokovic missed the Masters series event with an elbow injury and, having recovered, is eager to face Spain in the Davis Cup quarterfinals in front of a boisterous home crowd next weekend.
“Of course I wanted to be on the court and defend my title but it just didn’t happen this time,” Djokovic told a news conference in the Serbian capital’s Aleksandar Nikolic arena.
“At the same time, it was also rather refreshing to get some rest and sit out Miami at home with my wife and son. It was quality family time which I don’t get enough of and it made me very happy,” he said.
“A hardcourt tie is not an ideal preparation for the clay court season but given that I was away for a few weeks after a patchy start to the season, I need as many matches as possible to get back into my stride irrespective of the surface.”
Djokovic added: “The Davis Cup is a very special event as it generates the kind of home crowd atmosphere you don’t see on the ATP Tour, so I am really looking forward to performing in front of our fans. I always draw very positive energy from the Davis Cup as it invariably brings out the best in me.”
Having dominated for several years to rack up 12 grand slam tournaments after clinching his maiden French Open title last June, Djokovic then suffered a dramatic loss of form which saw him ousted as the world number one by Briton Andy Murray.
With Murray also playing in fits and starts in the early stages of the season, Djokovic heaped praise on the evergreen Roger Federer after the Swiss maestro won the Miami Open following his Australian Open triumph in January.
“What Federer has accomplished this year is admirable and it shows that one can play at the top level even at his age. He’s had his ups and downs in the last three or four years but came back swinging and revitalized after a six-month layoff last year,” said Djokovic.
He said the Miami Open final between Federer and Nadal was “as outstanding as anyone might have expected from the greatest rivalry ever”. Nadal will skip Spain’s clash with Serbia.
Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios is relishing being in the “best” mental shape of his career and credited the camaraderie of Australia’s Davis Cup team for his ominous form during the US hardcourt swing.
The world No. 16 pushed Roger Federer to the wall in a classic Miami Open semifinal on Friday and beat Djokovic twice in succession in the past month.
The emotional 21-year-old now carries Australia’s hopes of reaching the Davis Cup semi-finals when the hosts play the United States in Brisbane this weekend.
Having long felt ambivalent toward the sport and admitted to struggling for motivation, Kyrgios has brought a new intensity to training and a stronger focus on court. “I think my level’s always been there but I think where I’m at mentally at the moment, I’m just competing for every point and playing hard and I haven’t really had that mindset before,” Kyrgios told reporters in Brisbane on Tuesday.
“I’m feeling motivated and I want to get out there more. I want to compete and I want to play. I’m probably in the best place I’ve ever been in.” It was little more than two months ago that Kyrgios bowed out of the Australian Open in acrimony, jeered by home spectators after giving up a two-set lead in defeat to Italian Andreas Seppi.
But weeks later, he returned to play in the Davis Cup in the first round tie in Melbourne, playing a pivotal role in the 4-1 defeat of Czech Republic.
Kyrgios’s commitment to the team tournament has not always been so wholehearted. He was reported to have said, “I don’t want to be here” during a singles rubber defeat during the 2015 quarterfinal against Kazakhstan in Darwin and withdrew from last year’s first round tie against the United States in Melbourne, citing “illness”.
That withdrawal prompted criticism from teammate Bernard Tomic, who publicly upbraided him for the decision to pull-out.
Kyrgios returned to the fold for the World Group playoff win over Slovakia and has been a fixture since, while Australia’s No. 2 Tomic has opted out. Kyrgios said the win over Czech Republic had worked wonders for his motivation. “I think the last Davis Cup tie helped me a lot. Ever since then I’ve been in a good mental space,” he said.
“I prefer the team environment, I love being around these guys, I love training with them and I love being on the sidelines watching them compete.
“I’ve been wanting to play and they’ve all been supporting me. It’s good to know these guys have my back and I think it’s just the chemistry. I feel like I’m playing well and I’ve got a really good opportunity now to battle against the USA.” — Reuters
