Novak Djokovic's Press Conference Draws Criticism During His Worst Performance in Seven Years: "Is He Becoming Accustomed to Losing?"

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India, March 20 -- Novak Djokovic experienced an unexpected early exit from the Indian Wells Masters earlier this month, losing his opening match to Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp in a tournament he has previously won five times. This defeat brings Djokovic's record for the year to 7-4, marking his third consecutive loss. The last time the Serbian faced such a streak was in 2018, when he was recovering from an injury.

Djokovic's subdued start to the season, which included a retirement during the Australian Open semifinal after defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the previous round, has prompted speculation about whether age is beginning to affect the 37-year-old's performance.

During a discussion on the Tennis Channel, former American WTA player CoCo Vandeweghe raised concerns about Djokovic's mindset. "The question arises - is Novak Djokovic becoming too accustomed to losses? It's unusual for a player to experience several defeats in succession, and then to see him smiling a bit too much at press conferences raises doubts about his mental fortitude," she remarked.

Prior to the Indian Wells event, Djokovic also faced an early defeat in the first round of the Qatar Open against the powerful-serving Matteo Berrettini, marking the first time the Italian has triumphed over the legendary Serbian in five encounters.

Nevertheless, former British number one Andrew Castle believes Djokovic is focusing on preparing for the most significant tournaments, namely the Grand Slams.

"One of the key questions he must consider is what will serve as the best preparation for the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open?" Castle commented to Globusbet.

Castle pointed out that Djokovic is encountering tough competition from players like Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who have defeated him multiple times over the past year, disrupting his recent supremacy on the ATP tour.

"This indicates that he still perceives an opportunity to improve, and it is evident to all observers that there are now three or four players capable of defeating him. It will be fascinating to see how he responds to this challenge.

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