World number one Novak Djokovic came back strong after his injury to the US Open, winning the Tokyo tournament on Sunday 6th October 2019.
For his return after his retirement in the 8th at the US Open, Novak Djokovic flew over the tournament in Tokyo and looks very strong in his head, body and tennis at the Masters 1000 in Shanghai this week.
“I hope everyone realizes how talented you are and you play amazing tennis,” said John Millman (80th World) after being swept to the final on Sunday 6-3, 6-2.
After 4 weeks of rest, the 32-year-old Serb, whose place in the world No. 1 is threatened by Rafael Nadal, played his best tennis, which allows him to stay at the top of the world for 272 weeks, according to the ranking to be released Monday. Only Roger Federer (310) and Pete Sampras (286) did better.
Forgotten the left shoulder injury, which he never specified the exact nature but that forced him to give up against Stan Wawrinka at Flushing Meadows where he defended his title. Forgotten the eventual surgery that would have ended his season prematurely.
Lift it 🆙@DjokerNole #rakutenopen pic.twitter.com/3bPO3IF6N5
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 6, 2019
“Machine” and “ninja”
Sometimes “machine”, like face to Lucas Pouille (24th world) that he swept in 50 minutes in quarters, sometimes “ninja”, as against David Goffin (15th) that he smothered in half, the Djoker was Imperial in Tokyo where he did not lose any set in 5 games. He has even conceded only 15 games in his last three games against opponents who can all claim to have reached the quarterfinals in Grand Slam!
“I did not drop any set, so I played a fantastic tournament. Everything is positive, on and off the court, “said the Serb after the final in Tokyo where he played for the first time and he” hopes to return next year for the Olympics. ”
And while Nadal, winner of the US Open but a victim of inflammation in his left hand since the Laver Cup, has forfeited Shanghai, Djokovic will be one of the favourites to win in the penultimate Masters 1000 of the year that started Sunday and where he will defend his title … and his points ATP.
“I go there having been full of confidence,” he warned.
With his 76th title, the 4th of the year after the Masters 1000 Madrid and his 15th and 16th Grand Slam tournaments in Australia and Wimbledon, the Serbian will compete in Shanghai in the second round against Denis Shapovalov (32nd) or Frances Tiafoe (46th).
He has in his quarter table Gael Monfils (11th) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (7th) who plays Sunday the final in Beijing against Dominic Thiem (5th) after defeating in half Alexander Zverev (6th). The latter could face Federer in quarters in Shanghai.
🇷🇸 IDEMO NOLE 🇷🇸
@DjokerNole is the 2019 @rakutenopen champion 🏆 pic.twitter.com/mB7BcvddKz— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 6, 2019
Masters race
Switzerland, suffering from physical glitches (pain in the upper back and neck) in the quarterfinals of the US Open, has replayed only in the Laver Cup. In Shanghai, he will face Marin Cilic (30th) or Albert Ramos (44th).
Djokovic can only find Federer in the final, but he will have a theoretical semi-final before the man in the form of the season, the Russian Daniil Medvedev.
World No. 4, a heroic finalist of the US Open, has since won in St. Petersburg and faces Shanghai as the player who has won the most matches on the ATP circuit this year (54).
He will start his Chinese career, also in the second round, against a qualified or Gilles Simon (50th), before potentially find Karen Khachanov (9th).
In addition, the Shanghai Masters 1000 is expected to settle the fight for qualification at the London Masters (10-17 November). If Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Medvedev and Thiem are already qualified, there are still three places to go. Tsitsipas is on his way to take the 6th ticket, but the last two will be played.
There are six, from Roberto Bautista to Gael Monfils, separated by 270 points, to claim.
