Google News 'Novak Djokovic showed why he is one of the best on the planet', says young ace
by SIMONE BRUGNOLI | VIEW 2008
Novak Djokovic will be the big favorite at the 2023 Australian Open, where he will be hunting for his tenth seal. In the event of a triumph in Melbourne Park, the Serbian phenomenon would hook his eternal rival Rafael Nadal at 22 Grand Slams.
The former world number 1 was unable to play the Happy Slam this year due to his vaccination status, as well as having suffered serious image damage. For the same reason, the 35-year-old from Belgrade also had to miss the US Open and all the American Masters 1000.
Nole managed to revive his season by winning Wimbledon, the Atp Finals in Turin, the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, the ATP 500 in Astana and the ATP 250 in Tel Aviv. The 'Djoker' finished the year in the Top 5 and is preparing to return to the throne in 2023.
Goran Ivanisevic's protégé will compete in the Adelaide ATP 250 at the beginning of next season, so as to warm up the engines in view of the Australians open. Djokovic will have to be especially careful of Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz.
In an interview with 'Punto de Break', Daniel Vallejo spent beautiful words for Novak.
Vallejo pays tribute to Djokovic
"The best thing about that week was training with Novak Djokovic, warming up with him before his matches," Daniel Vallejo said of his experience.
"He was very kind to me, very charismatic, he showed why he is one of the best on the planet. He made me feel privileged. It is not the best advice because it is something very basic, but I prefer what Djokovic told me in Turin.
After training together, he told me that I had good ball quality, but that I have to accelerate more with my right hand," Vallejo revealed. The 18-year-old highlighted that Djokovic has the ability to be very aggressive even without hitting the ball hard, while also giving his opponents very little time to react.
"There is no one that I look at exactly, but the closest thing would be Djokovic, except for the huge differences. He also stands well inside the court and, without hitting him so hard, he manages to be very aggressive because he takes a lot of time from the rival," Vallejo explained.
Novak Djokovic is all set to launch a new pair of sneakers next year, in collaboration with his sponsor Asics. "At the beginning, I said I don't want to change," he said. "When I switched from my last sponsor to Asics shoes, I felt really like I was going to a sportscar from a commercial car.
I felt lighter on my feet, I felt there was more flexibility. I could change direction quicker, and I could slide. Why change when you feel good? Why change? Let's try to make an even better shoe."