Barty: "Djokovic? Sometimes the pressure becomes stressful"

The defeat of Novak Djokovic in the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2021 made a lot of noise. Few expected a defajance of the number one in the world, especially when he seemed ever closer to the sensational achievement of the Golden Slam.

Nole was one step away from winning against Alexander Zverev, one set and one break ahead, but then incredibly collapsed undergoing an 8-game run to 0 and effectively leaving all hope of victory. In the final for the bronze medal Nole gave clear signs of nervousness and then also gave up the last medal losing in three sets against the Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta.

It happened with Novak Djokovic in the men but also with the Japanese Naomi Osaka in the women: they were the favorites for the final victory but they probably came under pressure that has become unbearable. The number one female in the world, the Australian tennis player Ashleigh Barty, talked about Novak by commenting on what happened in her opinion to the number one in the world.

Barty's words about Novak Djokovic

Ashleigh made it clear that there was an underlying problem with the pressure and surprisingly revealed that this is an issue that doesn't concern her and in fact she loves pressure. Here are her words: "Obviously all tennis players have to face different feelings and pressures. Novak Djokovic is on a different level from mine, just think that this year he is fighting to win the Grand Slam, which hasn't happened since Rod Laver's time. 

I don't know how he feels, but it is certainly difficult and it is difficult to comment on this situation as well. When you are an athlete and you have pressure it can be stressful, sometimes very difficult and even distressing.

For me it is different, pressure for me is a privilege and at times it can even give you euphoria. Basically, I believe that pressure is able to give all of us that balance to be able to reach and overcome your limits."

At the Olympics, Barty disappointed her expectations in singles while she won the bronze medal in the mixed doubles, taking advantage of the withdrawal of Novak Djokovic and her partner.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3ClC3un