“Novak Djokovic Reveals Shocking Reason Behind US Open Collapse – ‘I Wasn’t Myself'”
Novak Djokovic recently offered an unexpected explanation for his early exit in the third round of the US Open, where he was defeated by Alexei Popyrin, marking his earliest Grand Slam departure in over seven years. As the defending champion, Djokovic’s loss prevented him from advancing to the second week of the tournament. Now competing…
Novak Djokovic recently offered an unexpected explanation for his early exit in the third round of the US Open, where he was defeated by Alexei Popyrin, marking his earliest Grand Slam departure in over seven years. As the defending champion, Djokovic’s loss prevented him from advancing to the second week of the tournament. Now competing in the Davis Cup, Djokovic has shared insights into his struggles at Flushing Meadows.
The world No. 4 has had a mixed season so far. While he secured an Olympic gold medal—a long-sought achievement—he has also faced setbacks, including knee surgery and surprising losses to lower-ranked opponents. In early August, the 37-year-old triumphed over Carlos Alcaraz to win the Olympic title, a victory that came just weeks after losing to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. Recognizing that this might be his last opportunity to win Olympic gold, Djokovic delivered under pressure.
However, the 24-time Grand Slam champion revealed that he felt a greater burden at the US Open, despite the high stakes of the Paris 2024 Olympics. “I always feel a general pressure that I have to win,” Djokovic told RTS. “This pressure comes from others, but also from myself, as I am a perfectionist and sacrifice a lot to perform my best when it matters most.”
Djokovic explained that the Olympics had been his primary focus, especially after sustaining a knee injury at Roland Garros. “I was very worried after the knee injury, but reaching the Wimbledon final relieved me, as I knew I would be ready for the Olympics,” he said.
Despite this, Djokovic noted that he experiences what he calls “additional pressure,” which varies depending on his form. “Before the finals in Paris, I hadn’t lost a set, and I even beat Rafael Nadal on his home turf—although he wasn’t at his best, it was still a significant achievement. The energy and support from home reduced the usual pressure,” he explained.
The US Open, however, presented a different challenge. Djokovic admitted that he didn’t feel like himself during the tournament. “In New York, I felt that I wasn’t well-prepared and didn’t feel like myself on the court, which increased the additional pressure before each match,” he confessed. “Tennis is an individual sport—if you don’t find a solution on the day, you lose. Over the years, this has kept me disciplined.”
Now, as Djokovic prepares for Serbia’s Davis Cup World Group I playoff tie against Greece in Belgrade, he appears to have regained his confidence. He concluded, “Being 100 percent ready doesn’t guarantee a win, but it certainly improves the chances.”