MADRID, 21 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic insists that he does not regret not having been able to play the 1,000 Masters in Indian Wells and Miami for not being able to enter the United States for not being vaccinated against the coronavirus, something that has cost him losing number one in benefit Carlos Alcaraz, an achievement that the Spaniard “deserves”.
“No, I don’t regret it. I’ve learned throughout life that regrets just hold you back and basically make you live in the past, and I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to live too much in the future either. I want to be as focused as I can at the present moment, but of course thinking about the future, creating a better future. So I congratulate Alcaraz, he absolutely deserves to return to number one,” Djokovic admitted in an interview with ‘CNN’ on Tuesday.
The winner of 22 ‘Grand Slams’ knows that it is “a shame” to miss the first two Masters 1,000, but acknowledges that “a conscious decision” on his part. “I knew that there is always the possibility that I could not go. And the current situation that I hope will change later in the face of the US Open, which is the most important tournament for me on American soil,” he warned.
“I really want to play there and I want to be there. In fact, in 2021, when I lost in the final against Medvedev, I had probably one of the best moments I’ve ever had with the New York spectators. And I’ve been lucky to win “That tournament three times and playing a lot of finals. And even though I lost that match, I got a lot of love and appreciation from the people and I want to go back and reconnect with the crowd there. So that’s something I’m looking forward to and hopefully happens.” added about it.
In addition, the man from Belgrade talks about his rivalry with the Spanish Rafa Nadal and the Swiss Roger Federer again. “They made me stronger, both mentally and physically, my game improved because of all these games we played against each other, mainly because of the games I lost against them, some important games”, confessed ‘Nole’, who does not forget how inspiring which is Serena Williams, champion of 23 ‘big’. “She continues to inspire me and all tennis players around the world, she has truly been an icon of our sport for so many years,” she underlined.
On the other hand, Djokovic spoke about his future after tennis. “I have been trying to be sensitive and aware that I have to start preparing it as soon as possible and surround myself with intelligent people who have the experience of being on that path, in that area, in that sector that I have been interested in for quite some time because I am new,” he said.