October 24, 2014

Novak Djokovic at risk of losing form in fatherhood

Djokovic hasn't played since Shanghai (©GettyImages).

Novak Djokovic is a winner on-court and he'll no doubt be feeling like a winner off it as well, with the Serbian celebrating the birth of his first child; a baby boy called Stefan. 

The year hasn't finished yet, but what an eleven-months - more-or-less - it has been for Djokovic and his new family. 

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Personal joy

A summer marriage to his long-term sweetheart Jelena Ristic and now the birth of the couple's first child; it doesn't get much better for a normal family, let alone the Djokovics.

That's right, because while he gets his personal life in place, success in the day job hasn't ground to a halt for the seven-time Grand Slam champion either.

We hear and read endless amounts about this being tennis' golden generation with the likes of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and even Andy Murray, all competing in their prime, and yes it's great.

Dominance 

However, the last couple of months have really seen Djokovic move a step ahead of the pack. He's won back the world no.1 tag and hasn't looked back since leapfrogging Nadal to the spot at Wimbledon.

It seems slightly strange therefore that he'll end 2014 with just (!) the one major title; at SW19. It didn't quite go right for Djokovic in the big moments of the other Slams when it looked like it could and should have. 

Almost needless to say, maybe, but Djokovic will look to turn dominance and favourable bookies' odds into more trophies in 2015, finally the elusive French Open?

Fumbled focus?

However, could there be a chance that the new father's focus will be rumbled by Stefan's birth? - Few could blame him if so, and recent history suggests it might well be a problem on-court.

Cast your mind back to the summer and the back-to-back Slams at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Djokovic was due to marry Ristic in the short break between the events but postponed the wedding at the last minute.

It wasn't because he had fallen out of love, or anything like that, it was so that he could focus on winning Wimbledon after his heartbreaking final loss in Paris to Nadal a week or so before. 

Zone

Clearly Djokovic is one of those people that has to be completely in the zone, and, evidently, his decision was vindicated as he defeated Federer in yet another Centre Court classic. 

The couple did of course get married after Wimbledon, but again, cast your mind back, in the weeks leading up to the US Open - his first action since the wedding - Djokovic really struggled to find form after the honeymoon period with his new wife. 

The season-end is drawing nearer and Djokovic will have some more time with baby Stefan and his wife, so imagine how much tougher it'll be for him when the tennis world reunites for the start of the 2015 season in Australia of all places. 

Challenge

One would suspect it'll be a difficult time for Djokovic, it's not as if he can postpone his feelings for his child, it'll constantly be at the back of his mind. How will that zone be compromised, that is a question with a very intriguing, and as yet unknown answer. 

Maybe he can tap into Federer's pool of experience. The 33-year-old has been able to combine the rigours of top-class tennis with fatherhood, he's had two sets of twins to deal with as well!

I'm sure the advice most pursued by Djokovic will be the best way to deal with sleepless nights; who knows, maybe Roger is just an unflappable freak of nature, it has certainly seemed that way sometimes in his career. 

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