The season that recently ended was turbulent for the 21-time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic, who started the calendar with the controversial and unfortunate episode in Australia. In 2021, the Balkan was one step away from making history (4 Grand Slams in one year almost achieved), but Novak has had great difficulties this season, mainly due to situations unrelated to tennis.
It all started with a tirade with the organizers of the Australian Open, who first made him leave and then excluded him. The champion of 21 Grand Slams paid the price of not getting the Covid-19 vaccine, a situation that forced him to be absent from the United States, missing several Masters 1000 and the US Open at the end of the year.
However, Novak achieved several excellent results, winning several tournaments, the most important of which are undoubtedly the Wimbledon tournament and the ATP Finals in Turin, a tournament he won a few weeks ago. The season is over, and for Novak it promises to be a different year.
In 2022 several people criticized the Balkan, even the most staunch fan backed down because of the tennis player’s personal decisions, but paradoxically a “great enemy” of his has changed his mind. We are talking about Australian Nick Kyrgios, a tennis player who had repeatedly disliked him for the Serb in the past, but who this year has completely changed his mind, and the two have even become great friends.
Novak and Nick met in the Wimbledon final, but even before that they had a totally different relationship. Kyrgios was one of the few who defended Djokovic at his worst, stating that everyone has the freedom to choose and that no one should judge him.
Djokovic publicly thanked Nick and the two exchanged various social messages.
Djokovic is ready for 2023
Novak Djokovic, in collaboration with his sponsor Asics, is all set to launch a new pair of sneakers next year. “At the beginning, I said I don’t want to change.
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,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed the process. Sometimes not, most of the time, yes. Good things take time. I am really proud of the whole process.
Don’t know if I can choose between stability and flexibility. You need to combine the lightness and comfort with functionality. For us, we change directions a lot and the first step is so crucial. We need a good shoe to absorb the shock of stopping and help us launch and change direction to the first step back to the middle of the court,” he added.
