The strange disease that Novak Djokovic suffers from and put the tennis world on alert

World tennis number one Novak Djokovic failed to beat young Russian Andrey Rublev in the ATP 250 final that was played in Belgrade, the capital of his country, falling 2-6, 6-7 and 6-0. Despite trying, during some passages of the match the Serbian could be seen a little tired, he even barely resisted to avoid the 6-0 of the last round.

At the subsequent press conference, however, he surprised with some worrying statements when he revealed that weeks ago he suffered from a disease that “it's not about coronavirus and I don't want to give more details, but it's something that affects my metabolism”.

“It's a bit worrying, I can only think that it's because of the disease that hit me a few weeks ago,” Nole considered and added: “This is an individual sport, when something fails, the engine can't work.”

Against Rublev, Djokovic scored his third defeat so far in 2022 after falling to Alejandro Davidovich in Monte Carlo 3-6, 7-6 and 1-6 and against Jiri Vesely in the Miami quarterfinals (4-6 and 6-7).

“It's worrying to have that feeling on the track. I didn't feel tired until the end of the second set. Game 5-4 was a long game and that's when I started not feeling well. It also happened to me in Monte Carlo,” acknowledged the Serbian about the second round with the Russian who was played for more than an hour.

It should be noted that during several passages of the match, the tennis player used several towels with ice and made the most of every second of rest between game and game.

“It had never happened to me, even in the early stages of my career, but first Monte Carlo and then here. That's why I think it's related to the illness I've been through, which was hard physically and also in health,” he lamented.

At the same time, he nevertheless estimated that “things are progressing slowly but surely. Paris is the big goal and hopefully I'll be fit and ready to play the best of five sets.”

Despite the defeat, the Serbian was happy to play in Belgrade before his people (8,500 spectators filled the stands): “There are few opportunities I play in front of the audience at home. His energy has pushed me to the final, and it is a satisfaction and pride that I will take with me to use in the next challenges”

This week, before the final, Nole faced Russia's Karen Khachanov (No. 26), and Serbs Laslo Djere (No. 50) and Miomir Kecmanovic (No. 38), having played only four games earlier this year.

Finally, he also announced that he has ambitions for the ATP 250 series tournament in Belgrade to become 500 and attract even more players from the world cusp, and that he is negotiating in this regard. “We have the desire, the tendency and the possibility that we will be 500,” concluded the tennis player.

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