‘Not a great season’ – Djokovic reacts to Monte Carlo loss, as Ruud says 'he's human'

It’s an uncommon place for the Serbian nice to search out himself in, such is the “excessive customary” he units for himself – with Ruud managing to beat Djokovic for the primary time in six makes an attempt.

Djokovic misplaced to Alex de Minaur within the United Cup – his chosen Australian Open warm-up occasion – and to Jannik Sinner in Melbourne, earlier than being overwhelmed by Luca Nardi in Indian Wells. Add within the defeat to Ruud, and it’s clear this season shouldn’t be shaping up how Djokovic may need hoped.

Mitigating circumstances do exist – this was Djokovic’s first event of the yr on clay, whereas Ruud has already performed in Estoril and thus was maybe higher ready for the situations in Monaco. These situations diversified massively too, with rain and unseasonably cooler climate for the gamers to take care of over the primary few days, earlier than the solar got here out and situations quickened.

“I am used to actually excessive customary by way of expectations of the outcomes, so not having a title is, possibly evaluating to the final 15 years, not an incredible season in any respect,” Djokovic mentioned.

“However I had semis of Australia, semis right here. I solely performed three tournaments this yr, so after all, you understand, it is regular to count on that you’ve got some seasons the place you do not begin properly, and that is the one.

“Hopefully, yeah, I can decide up, by way of outcomes, I can construct from right here, as a result of, you understand, I performed some good tennis. Hopefully within the subsequent tournaments I will be capable to play even higher.”

This isn’t Djokovic’s worst begin to a season – removed from it. In 2018 he didn’t win a title till Wimbledon and didn’t make a single closing on the exhausting or clay courts within the opening a part of the season.

However given how a lot is anticipated of the 24-time main winner, his lacklustre begin to the marketing campaign has been famous by many, not least the best way he misplaced in Monte Carlo – with a double fault on match level.

“In fact, I am upset, you understand, to lose a match like this,” Djokovic mentioned of his semi-final defeat.

“I had my probabilities, however yeah, final sport was not nice. Unforced errors and simply he was strong I feel till the final shot and deserved to win. My sport was form of up and down.

“I imply, the optimistic factor is that I form of managed to come back again after shedding the primary set and actually discover the energy within the sport. So, there are positives to remove from this event, for certain, however after all upset with the loss.”

As for Ruud, he’s a confirmed performer on the filth courts so to see him make his first closing in Monaco shouldn’t be sudden, nevertheless it did shock just a few given his prior report in opposition to Djokovic.

“Clearly Novak is Novak,” Ruud mentioned. “He is human. Generally he would not appear to be it, however he’s like everybody else.

“I feel what actually motivated me and helped me a bit at the moment was possibly that I considered, you understand, he misplaced a match in Indian Wells to Luca Nardi, and he confirmed there that he is additionally weak generally. Not many instances in a yr, however just a few days right here and there he is doable to beat.

“When you see that somebody has carried out rather well at first of the yr, it is robust to play them, since you’re anticipating, wow, this man is sort of not possible to beat. However if you happen to see that many or different gamers have overwhelmed him earlier than, you consider a bit extra in your self additionally.”

With the rise of Sinner, the hype surrounding Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune enjoying thrilling tennis and Grigor Dimitrov rolling again the years, there’s loads of expertise on present on the boys’s tour in the meanwhile, however Ruud maintains Djokovic units the usual.

Ruud mentioned: “In my eyes, [Djokovic is] of the all-time gamers to attempt to beat. Immediately I used to be in a position to do it. One thing I can bear in mind for the remainder of my life and inform hopefully my youngsters sooner or later and my grandkids once I’m getting previous that, you understand, I beat Novak one time a minimum of.

“Nobody is aware of how lengthy he plans to play for, however clearly he is getting older, however he is nonetheless bodily in good condition and enjoying unbelievable tennis. Nevertheless it’s at all times enjoyable to play in opposition to him, as a result of, you understand, it is one of many hardest challenges in our sport.”