{"id":39780,"date":"2025-04-10T02:40:21","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T02:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=39780"},"modified":"2025-04-10T02:40:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T02:40:21","slug":"novak-djokovic-talks-about-retirement-addresses-shock-defeat-in-monte-carlo-didnt-expect-to-play-this-bad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=39780","title":{"rendered":"Novak Djokovic talks about retirement, addresses shock defeat in Monte Carlo: ‘Didn’t expect to play this bad’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Novak Djokovic suffered a surprising early exit from the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday. Earlier, he candidly discussed his retirement plans and balancing tennis with personal life.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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\"Novak<\/p>\n
Novak Djokovic reacts during his round of 32 match against Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo. Image: Reuters<\/div>\n
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Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis icon and all-time Grand Slam leader, discussed his retirement plans before his opening game of the Monte Carlo Masters. Djokovic spoke candidly about the balance he wants to maintain between his professional and private lives.<\/p>\n

Djokovic suffered an unexpected defeat to Chile\u2019s Alejandro Tabilo (6-3, 6-4) in his opening game on Wednesday. His bid to win a 100th career title ended with this defeat for the time being. Before the match, he touched upon his future plans and other aspects of his game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m trying to have the balancing act as I go along. When I say balancing act, I mean finding a nice equilibrium between professional life and private life\u2014being content with what I\u2019m doing, how I\u2019m doing it, and still being able to motivate myself to keep going, not just in tournaments but also in practice week after week,\u201d Djokovic was quoted as saying by\u00a0Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Djokovic reflects on retirement<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Djokovic, who is 37 years old, admitted that motivation doesn\u2019t come as easily as it once did, acknowledging the increased internal dialogue about the future of his career. However, the 24-time Grand Slam winner said he found renewed optimism from his recent performance in the Miami Open.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no doubt it became more difficult than it was throughout my career. When I\u2019m playing that way, obviously it gives me more inspiration to keep going. It just feels great on the court when you\u2019re striking the ball well, when you\u2019re winning matches,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are more inner voices bringing doubts, conversations about whether you should keep going and for how long. So I\u2019m glad that at least in Miami, I\u2019ve found that joy on the court and felt my performance level rise again. Let\u2019s see if I can carry that into the clay season,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

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Djokovic after shock defeat<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After his early exit from the Monte Carlo Masters, Djokovic expressed surprise at his own performance, admitting that he did not expect to play that poorly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI expected myself at least to have put in a decent performance. Not like this, it was horrible. I did not have high expectations. I knew I\u2019m going to have a tough opponent, and I knew I\u2019m going to probably play pretty bad. But this bad, I didn\u2019t expect,\u201d Djokovic said after the match.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was hoping it was not going to happen, but it was quite a high probability I\u2019m going to play this way. \u2026 A horrible feeling to play this way. Just sorry for all the people that have to witness this,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Djokovic will turn 38 just before the start of the French Open 2025 in May. He will look to improve his performance in the tournament.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Novak Djokovic suffered a surprising early exit from the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday. 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