Roger Federer had more chances than Novak Djokovic to win, says Horvat
The former ATP Zagreb Tournament Director Branko Horvat recalled Novak Djokovic's first professional tournament in the Croatian event. Horvat said: "We knew since the beginning that Novak was talented and he could have achieved something in the future, but we were attracted by the tournament star Ivan Ljubicic. Riccardo Piatti helped Novak but Ljubicic was world No. 3 and so he completely focused on him. Novak and Ivan faced each other in the semifinals and we were all surprised by how Novak played, and he played in a brilliant way despite he lost. We were always in a good relationship. I watched his Wimbledon final, great match and fight until the end. Federer had more chances to win. Novak was always a positive person, an amazing man", he told Index.
Horvat also questioned the younger players: "Where are them? There are fix or six players somewhere, knocking on the door, but nobody can make a step forward. Thiem, Zverev, Tsitsipas..."
Niki Pilic praised Djokovic: "I do not look at many other sports, but I do not think there are many strong athletes mentally. It's unbelievable how he hits when the toughest moments come. But that's the character willing and focus he showed as a kid. He also had this unbelievable personality."
Speaking to CNN, Djokovic said: "This was mentally the most demanding [win of my career] because of the circumstances and Roger across the net was playing well. He was match points up and serving and in those moments you just try and stay there, try to stay present and find that strength and self-belief and in the end, I managed to pull it out. I'm very, very, very happy and proud of the achievement today ... And exhausted as well, of course."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/337JsMt
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