Google News Novak Djokovic doesn't understand why only 500 odd people stand to...
by SIMONE BRUGNOLI | VIEW 5777
The Masters 1000 series has seen nearly 300 tournaments since Indian Wells 1990. Only four players have won the title after their 34th birthday, and four legends stand alone on the list. Andre Agassi did it at Cincinnati 2004, followed by Roger Federer at the same event 11 years later.
Roger raised the bar in 2017, lifting three titles and becoming the first Masters 1000 champion at the ages of 35 and 36. The Swiss gave one last push and lifted the trophy in Miami 2019 at 37 years and seven months, securing the record that will have to be broken in the future.
Rafael Nadal joined the roster in Rome last year, winning the title a couple of weeks before his 35th birthday. Novak Djokovic dethroned Rafa at the Foro Italico this May, becoming the champion a couple of days before his 35th birthday and becoming the second-youngest Masters 1000 winner.
Novak had a chance to become the second player to hold a Masters 1000 trophy in his hands after Federer, a couple of weeks ago in Paris. Djokovic reached the final and set his eyes on the seventh crown of the Paris Masters.
However, he suffered a tough 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 loss to young Dane Holger Rune and settled for runner-up. Holger defeated Novak in two hours and 33 minutes to become the fourth-youngest Masters 1000 winner. Novak played well in the first set and created break chances early in the second.
Holger wasted them and raised his level to defeat a six-time winner and force the decider. The Serb missed a game point that could have won him 4-1 and allowed the Dane to regain the lead and extend the duel.
Djokovic won Wimbledon this year
Novak Djokovic recently opened up about the criticism he is often subjected to from the tennis media.
"I know that people sometimes think I'm fake, that I do certain things because I want to be loved. It's not like that, I'm just trying to be genuine. It's something we're losing," Djokovic said. "It is not possible to please everyone but by now the politically correct forces us to give up expressing our ideas with respect, without hatred, but with freedom.
Freedom of speech for me today is just an illusion. Everything to do with health, for example. But I'm also interested in talking about what's wrong with the world of tennis," Djokovic said. "A sport that in terms of popularity and diffusion comes second only to football and basketball in the NBA, which is followed and practiced everywhere, even in China there are many fields, but which gives a living to just 500 people: does it seem possible to you?"