#novak-djokovic

#novak-djokovic

Over the 74,301 years he's been playing tennis, warming to Novak Djokovic hasn't always been easy. And the man himself knows it, frequently bristling at sleights perceived, imagined and real, his 24 grand slam titles unable to replace the basic need to feel loved. What we all learn from Djokovic, though what even Djokovic himself can learn from Djokovic is how to execute the perennially torturous business of loving yourself.

Djokovic was control of the match and his opponent appeared to be close to retiring from the match as he struggled with a shoulder problem in the second set. Yet Van de Zandschulp recovered and was fighting his way back into contention when Djokovic lost his composure. After his opponent missed his shot, Djokovic lashed out and smashed the ball in anger that flew past the ball kid at the net at high speed.

That's the reason why I decided not to make a call: would I go to Turin or not earlier, because I wanted to see how the matches go, how I react, he told reporters. After yesterday's [Friday] match, I was hoping that it was not going to flare up. But then today, even before the match, it was not great. I had to take all the strong medications to be able to play the match.

Valentin Vacherot continued his fairytale run through the Shanghai Masters draw by toppling an injured Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 to become the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 finalist. In his first match against a top-five opponent, let alone the greatest men's player of all time, the Monegasque world No 204 maintained his composure as he punished a hampered Djokovic, who appeared to struggle with his left gluteal muscle from early in the first set.

Djokovic's moves were part of the choreography for "Soda Pop," a song by one of the movie's fictional bands, the Saja Boys. "KPop Demon Hunters," as the title suggests, follows a girl band who moonlights as demon slayers. The movie, which has even captivated fathers who've seen it, features several catchy songs, four of which currently sit in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Novak Djokovic pulled out of the Cincinnati Open, officially for a "non-medical" reason, leaving him without matches for over a month before the US Open.