Novak Djokovic: What His Withdrawal from Monte Carlo Means for the Clay Season

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: April 9, 2011

commentComment        

The news that our new prince of the court, Novak Djokovic, had withdrawn from the Monte Carlo Open was, to say the least, surprising.

Not only because for what he has achieved in the last few months, but also for the fact that those last few months seem to have evinced a quality which many had doubted he possessed: long-term physical stamina.

Which isn't to say, by any stretch of the imagination, that he lacks long-term physical stamina. That, really, has yet to be seen.

The celebration of his outlasting Nadal in the Miami final, however, seemingly fitter, on that day, than arguably the fittest guy on tour, is noteworthy, and it would be worthwhile tracking how thoughts like these go over the next four months.

Djokovic's announcement was surprising, too, to some extent, because we had become used, in some odd way, to these sorts of announcements from the Serb...not just from tournaments, of course, but more famously, from matches (and certain Grand Slam semifinal matches, at that).

It was surprising because it hadn't been surprising. It can only speak volumes about how much progress he has made, how much of an aura he has accrued, over the last three months.

Certainly, many would not have been wrong to pick Djokovic to win on a clay-court against just about anybody...even, possibly, Rafael Nadal. Now that he is out of Monte Carlo (at least), certain projections, naturally, have to be altered.

Firstly, the idea that he will win the tournament has to go out of the window, obviously. But who else might, now? Nadal, almost definitely; it wasn't as if he wasn't the favourite already, anyway.

But to avoid the obvious at first, some paltry statistics: Djokovic's withdrawal gives the current world No. 3, Roger Federer, some opportunity to recoup valuable rankings territory.

With Djokovic dropping off his semifinals points from last year, and Federer having everyt...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

Latest News


Comments

Comments are closed.

Sponsors

Bruins Tickets The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

Red Wings Tickets The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League.

Penguins Tickets The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

New York Rangers Tickets play their home games at Madison Square Garden, they are one of the oldest teams in the NHL, having joined in 1926 as an expansion franchise, and are part of the group of teams referred to as the Original Six.

San Jose Sharks Tickets The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States.

Toronto Maple Leafs Tickets The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

New Jersey Devils Tickets The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

Washington Capitals Tickets The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C.

Buffalo Sabres Tickets The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. Get the Sabres and all of your NHL Tickets here.

NASCAR season is on of the most attended sports in the world. NASCAR Tickets to the best tracks is a must every year. Some of these tracks are: Talladega Tickets, Lowes Motor Speedway Tickets, Pocono Raceway Tickets, located in Ridgeway Virginia you have Martinsville Speedway Tickets and southern US you have two of the most popular Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets and Texas Motor Speedway Tickets. Don't miss all the racing events this year!

Boston Red Sox Tickets The Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since 1912, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. This is one of the hottest MLB Tickets sales of any team in the major league.

New York Yankees Tickets The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get tickets to one of the hottest games of the season Yankees Red Sox Tickets.

Chicago Cubs Tickets The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League.

Phillies Tickets The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883.

Orioles Tickets The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.

Do you love wrestling? Get your WWE Tickets and WWE Survivor Series Tickets today!