It's a razor's edge at the top, as effortless as players like Fed have made it seem. Djokovic lost that edge somewhat, and is self aware enough to know it. Relationships get stale. You need to move on.
Djokovic is only 30, and has more majors in him if he gets to the right place emotionally, physically, and mentally. It's a grind out there. For a very select few there are millions at stake if they win and keep building their brand.
Djokovic is a professional athletic entertainer. While fun to watch against the best players in the world, one has to wonder about a culture that happily pays him millions to do it.
Are we not entertained?
Djokovic is only 30, and has more majors in him if he gets to the right place emotionally, physically, and mentally. It's a grind out there. For a very select few there are millions at stake if they win and keep building their brand.
Djokovic is a professional athletic entertainer. While fun to watch against the best players in the world, one has to wonder about a culture that happily pays him millions to do it.
Are we not entertained?
2
The old saw about the millions paid and what a wacky culture it is that does so. Okay, with all of the money in tennis we shouldn't pay the top players a lot of money? Hint: no Rog, no Novak, no Rafa, no tennis money. You can't have one without the other. Get Djokovic to some kind of therapist and get his family into therapy, too, and don't sweat the big bucks. After all, we have billionaires throughout our government these days and would you pay a nickel to watch any of them?
Undoubtedly, Djokovic is very good. He is also a conceited snob. He has nothing like the grace and manners of Sampras, Borg, Federer, Graff, Agassi. Style is something about life, lived every day, not just on court. One hoped that marriage would bring some style into his life, but the verdict is out.
1
Many of the playes you cite had a comfortable upbringing in Europe, US, had choices early on in life. Novak D. grew up as a child in war torn ex. Yugoslavia and learn't playing tennis from a very humble beginning in life, with certain mentors that gave their knowledge to him. Novak always complements all opponents in defeat, he and his wife are active with different charities etc. Not certain what style means in this context but again so much easier as a Sampras, growing up in a safe, peaceful and wealthy country and having many choices as a child...when a proven champ suddenly struggles, boy do some people just love to kick them down even more...and for no obvious reason.
2
Maybe Andre can convince Zverev and Tiem not to play in the French Open and Rafa to retire. It's not about x's and o's with Nolo Contendre but a serious head case problem with "unspecified" personal problems. Besides, after winning four majors in a row and being fabulously wealthy, where does the hunger come from? Andre came back from a very low point (playing challengers) to win majors again; Nolo stubs his tow by not being perfect and everybody is in a sweat. Don't they know that Roger is the only one that's perfect?
Why isn't Mr. Perfect playing in the French Open, which he has won only ONCE, and that was only because Nadal had lost in an earlier round!!
1
There is no upside here for Andre
1
Djokovic seems to be looking for star power, as if Becker or Agassi can bring some magic dust along. Watching Zverev outplay him today indicates that Djokovic needs a new narrative, he needs to root in his own mythology. I think he should take more time with Emir Kusturica, that guy would set his crazy talent free.
1
Let's hope this isn't a Jimmy Connors moment. Along with a coach it appears that something is going on between Djoker's ears and that is beyond Agassi's ability. Throw in a family therapist, too. How do you go from embarrassing Thiem to having a angry, out of control kind of mess with Zverev? Something is not right.
Very happy to see Andre Agassi back!
1
Welcome back Andre! Excited to see you getting involved with the Tour once again. Please don't be a stranger.
And good luck to the Djoker!
And good luck to the Djoker!
11
by the Australian Nick Kyrgios recently and yesterday (May 21), by Alexander
Zverev, of Germany, both 20. However, his hopes of winning the French Open
in the next three weeks, with the help of the retired tennis maestro, Andre Agassi, is a pipe dream.
Boris Becker, his erstwhile coach, repeatedly told Djokovic to improve his work ethic. I would add to that advice that he needs to pay close attention to his errors in the matches that he should have won, particularly those against Querrey, Kyrgios, and Zverev. Instead of becoming creative by improvising surefire angled shots at the net, Djokovic, playing baseline, looked fearful of them. And that made his serves wimpy and easy for Zverev to return. Agassi is not going to whisper a mantra in the Serb's ears that would help him win Grand Slam events. A work horse himself even in his salad days, Agassi is going to take Djokovic to the practice courts next week and remind him to play in Paris with the same focus, concentration, mobility, and aggression as he did in the semifinals against Dominic Thiem, the young Austrian, who beat Raffa Nadal--on clay--in straight sets, in Rome.
Novak Djokovic has couple more majors in his future, if he is willing to work as hard as his newly hired temporary coach, Andre.
anticipat