Eurosport tennis expert Mats Wilander feels that Novak Djokovic’s tumultuous 2024 season may have added another year or two to the Serb’s career. Djokovic, 35, faced lots of adversity throughout the season as he was denied participation at two Grand Slams and four Masters tournaments.
Even though missing Grand Slams wasn’t an easy pill to swallow for Djokovic, he kept firm in his principles and beliefs. Also, Djokovic was heavily criticized throughout the season for his continued vaccine stance.
“Novak has been so close to being allowed to go to the Australian Open and so close to being allowed to go to the US Open that it would have never affected his training blocks or his practice sessions.
And I think because he wasn’t allowed to go, I think obviously physically it might be a tough thing for him to play five sets, seven matches, but he can deal with that. But emotionally, I feel like he’s added another year or two to his career because he must probably be slightly upset about what happened.
But obviously, Novak understands completely what it is that happened, and there’s nothing you can do about it. And is it right or wrong? It doesn’t really matter. So I think he’s able to understand that. But I think that he looks so fresh, he looks so good.
I can’t quite understand or believe that he did not win the tournament in Paris [Djokovic lost in the final to Holger Rune]. I was shocked that he didn’t win that. But he played good enough and you can’t win everything,” Wilander told Eurosport.
