Novak Djokovic Reflects on Season Start: ‘This Is the One,’ Eyes Turnaround After Monte-Carlo Loss

In the wake of a semifinal loss to Casper Ruud at the Monte-Carlo Masters, tennis world No. 1 Novak Djokovic has offered a candid assessment of his performance, acknowledging the challenges of a slow start to the season while expressing optimism for the future.

When asked about his satisfaction with the season so far, Djokovic candidly admitted,

“I’m used to really high standard in terms of expectations of the results, so not having a title is, maybe comparing to the last 15 years, not a great season at all.”

Despite reaching the semifinals at both the Australian Open and Monte-Carlo Masters, Djokovic emphasized his relentless pursuit of excellence and his disappointment in not securing a tournament victory.

Djokovic says it’s normal to have some seasons where you don’t start well, ‘This is the one’

“Considering all the season so far, which are the things you are most satisfied with and which one the less you are satisfied with?”

Novak: “Well, I mean, I'm used to really high… pic.twitter.com/Eod5jHwo84

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 13, 2024

With only three tournaments under his belt this year, Djokovic recognized the inevitability of encountering seasons where results may not meet expectations. “It’s normal to expect that you have some seasons where you don’t start well, and this is the one,” he remarked, demonstrating his resilience and acceptance of the ebbs and flows inherent in professional tennis.

Looking ahead, Djokovic remains hopeful for a turnaround in his fortunes, buoyed by his solid performances and unwavering commitment to improvement. “Hopefully, I can pick up, in terms of results, I can build from here,” he stated optimistically. “I played some good tennis. Hopefully in the next tournaments I’ll be able to play even better.”

As Djokovic prepares to regroup and refocus in the coming weeks, tennis enthusiasts around the world eagerly await his next chapter on the court, eager to witness the unrivaled determination and skill that have cemented his status as one of the sport’s greatest champions.