‘Seeing black’: Djokovic mulled quitting in 2010 after struggling against arch-rivals

World number one Novak Djokovic has revealed how he considered quitting tennis in 2010 as he struggled against great rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

The 32-year-old was ranked third in the world and had lifted his first Grand Slam at the 2008 Australian Open.

But he was plunged into the depths of despair in 2010 after letting a two-sets lead slip in a French Open quarter-final clash against Austrian Jurgen Melzer.

“This defeat was really difficult for me emotionally,” the Serb said in an interview with Sky Sports Italia.

“I cried after being knocked out. It was a bad moment, I wanted to quit tennis because I saw everything black.

“I had won in Australia in 2008, I was number three in the world, but I wasn’t happy.

“I knew I could do more, but I lost the more important matches against Federer and Nadal.” The Melzer defeat proved a turning point.

“From that moment on I felt liberated,” said Djokovic.

“It took off the pressure, I started playing more aggressively, here was the turning point.”

In 2011, Djokovic won three Grand Slams and now has a total of 17 — three short of Federer’s all-time men’s record, and two fewer than Nadal. Djokovic said he was eager to get back to tennis, currently suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Officially it’s July 13, many say that we will hardly start again on that date,” said Djokovic who was on an 18-0 winning streak in 2020 when sport came to a halt in mid-March.

That run included a record eighth Australian Open title.

“For us tennis players it is important to have clarity in the calendar. At the beginning I was a little empty and in confusion, I lacked clarity.

“It’s important for me to have a routine, I cannot wait for a date. I train every day in the gym, I run at home, I play with the children.”

Meanwhile, welcome to what the world of tennis could look like once government restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic have been lifted.

On Friday, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), issued a set of guidelines for local and national-level competitions.

“They emphasise that decisions made by governments take precedence and that tennis (either competitive or recreational) should not be played until governments have sufficiently relaxed any restrictions that are currently in place,” said an ITF statement.

The guidelines include arriving at a venue already dressed and leaving immediately after the conclusion of a match.

“Do not use the locker rooms or showers,” say the ITF.

Masks are to be worn while off-court, players and officials should maintain at least two metres between each other while hand shakes are also off limits.

Each player is asked to use their own set of balls - separately numbered.

Ball boys and girls to wear rubber gloves while at changeovers, players must go around opposite sides of the net.

Players are also discouraged from signing autographs and from taking selfies while being warned not share equipment, water bottles or food.

Tournaments should also only be singles and played without spectators.

“While following measures such as these will ensure that the risk from COVID-19 is minimised, the guidelines are clear that the risk cannot be eliminated altogether,” added the ITF.

The professional ATP and WTA tours have been suspended since mid-March and are not expected to resume until July 13 at the earliest.

Agencies