There was great anticipation for Novak Djokovic’s debut in Monte Carlo, as it was just his second official tournament this year. The world number 1 looked rusty and very far from top form, crashing down to the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. After putting the second set back on its feet thanks to an excellent tiebreak, the Serbian phenomenon collapsed in the third, cashing in a peremptory 6-1. At a press conference, the 34-year-old from Belgrade admitted that he ran out of gas and that he was no longer able to hold up the exchanges from the baseline. The last few months have been very complicated for the 20-time Grand Slam champion. Due to his choice not to get vaccinated against the Coronavirus, Nole was unable to defend the title at the Australian Open and suffered serious damage to his image. Strict US regulations forced him to miss the Indian Wells and Miami Masters 1000s as well. Novak will now play the Serbia Open, before the Masters 1000 in Madrid and Rome. His goal is to get 100% to Roland Garros. Guillaume Couillard, captain of the Monegasque Davis Cup team, revealed what Djokovic’s habits are when he is in the Principality.
Couillard opens up on Novak Djokovic
“Either his coach contacts me, or Novak Djokovic warns the ATP offices, which have a building 100m from the club, that he arrives and then I am asked if there are partners hanging out in the area available for training,” says Guillaume Couillard. “He’s a little late every time, but it’s not just with us. He does very simple things, with a lot of rigor and involvement. It’s a great exercise for our players, which replaces a game in the investment.” Novak Djokovic is known for his plant-based diet as the tennis superstar has had immense success after switching to such a diet and has racked up trophies at numerous events. “He never came in person, he sent people, even if it was never the same. We find classic, pasta and also protein,” he added. “He was a little less present here in recent months, because the health measures in France and Monaco were still drastic, with the health and vaccine pass,” he said. He was a bit stuck, not allowed to enter a tennis club, nor to the gyms. He was rather in Serbia, where he was quieter. Add to that the work on the Larvotto beach for a year and a half and Monaco had turned into an Alcatraz prison without the bars.”