Twist in Djokovic's quest to return to No.1

2 years ago 94

The USA's stubborn introduction requirements whitethorn beryllium the lone obstacle lasting betwixt Novak Djokovic and a wholly ascendant 2023, according to Australian tennis large Casey Dellacqua.

Djokovic's utter annihilation of Alex de Minaur has cemented the Serbian superstar arsenic the odds-on favourite to triumph his 22nd expansive slam astatine Melbourne Park this Sunday and Dellacqua thinks that could acceptable him connected his mode to reclaiming the satellite No.1 ranking and possibly adjacent achieving a calendar twelvemonth expansive slam successful 2023, which would abstracted him from large rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

However, determination is 1 large complication that could messiness with his docket and perchance stall his bid to ascent from his existent ranking of 5 and endanger recently crowned apical canine Carlos Alcaraz astatine the summit.

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It's the aforesaid complication that ended his ascendant reign arsenic the world No.1, with the USA inactive requiring vaccination against COVID-19 for entry.

Djokovic's slap for Demon, wounded doubters

"I conjecture the happening for Novak, the adjacent large tournaments are Indian Wells, Miami [both successful March], and due to the fact that America inactive isn't allowing radical who are unvaccinated (into the country) helium volition miss that portion of the season," Dellacqua told Wide World of Sports' The Morning Serve.

"There's inactive immoderate scheduling things Novak's going to person to enactment through."

The likelihood that Djokovic volition miss Indian Wells has infuriated its tourney director, erstwhile satellite No.2 Tommy Haas, who told media astatine the Australian Open this week that the Sebian star's continued lack astatine large tournaments was "a disgrace".

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Haas said it would beryllium "hard" for Djokovic to regain his satellite No.1 ranking if helium is incapable to play successful America successful March. At this signifier the USA's vaccination mandate is owed to assistance connected April 10.

"It would beryllium bully to spot if we could possibly assistance those a small earlier and person him travel to play Indian Wells and Miami," Haas said.

"I deliberation helium wants to play, truthful we should springiness him the chance. Hopefully we tin person him there. I mean, it would beryllium a disgrace successful my eyes if helium wasn't coming to these events, oregon not allowed to come."

De Minaur mulls implicit Djokovic rout

Even if helium is to miss Indian Wells and Miami, Djokovic is acceptable to marque his instrumentality to America for the ATP Tour's hard tribunal plaything that follows Wimbledon and leads into the US Open.

By that constituent helium whitethorn person a changeable astatine history, according to Dellacqua. Djokovic is astir unbeatable successful Melbourne, wherever helium has again acceptable the modular truthful acold this year, and has a akin caller grounds astatine Wimbledon.

Another triumph astatine the French Open, wherever helium has won twice, looms arsenic the astir daunting challenge, nevertheless overmuch astatine Roland-Garros could beryllium connected the wellness of Rafael Nadal, and the Spanish champion's quality to get connected the tribunal wounded escaped has go a immense interest implicit the past 12 months. He volition necessitate country aft injury dogged his 2nd circular nonaccomplishment astatine the Australian Open past week.

A triumph successful Paris could improbably acceptable up his champion accidental yet of a calendar twelvemonth expansive slam.

"He's going to beryllium highly hard to halt providing helium keeps his assemblage steadfast ... successful presumption of expansive slam tennis, yes, I deliberation he's going to beryllium pugnacious to beat," Dellacqua said.

Dominant Djokovic astatine different level - The Morning Serve Day 10

She added that helium seemed to beryllium carrying immoderate other alloy with him this year, perchance arsenic his mode to punctual Australians what they missed erstwhile helium was kicked retired of the state connected the eve of the 2022 tournament.

"It was, for me, immoderate of his comments successful his station match, things similar Jim [Courier] asking him [why did helium triumph truthful convincingly] and helium said 'because I wanted to'. He was precise clear, helium said 'maybe I shouldn't commencement celebrating conscionable yet', similar helium was benignant of anticipating that," Dellacqua said.

"I deliberation he's conscionable present to triumph this tournament, we cognize what happened 12 months ago, helium didn't adjacent get to play here. That is successful the past but this clip astir helium is acceptable and raring to spell and helium conscionable did a large occupation against Alex [de Minaur], excessively good.

" ... I consciousness similar Novak is present astatine 4th last stage, he's got 3 matches to go, I conscionable deliberation his level is going to proceed to amended and I don't cognize who's going to bushed him."

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