Novak Djokovic, the giant of tennis, made his return to the round of 16 at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells after a nine-year absence, and his journey was anything but easy. In the match against American Aleksandar Kovacevic, victory came only after an intense third set that had all the ingredients of a thriller. Just when it seemed a tie-break would determine the outcome of the match, Kovacevic, who stood out with a powerful serve, made a crucial error on match point, allowing Djokovic to advance.
In a press conference, the Serbian did not hold back in praising his opponent. Kovacevic, 27, who has Serbian ancestry, often trains with Djokovic, and the Belgrade champion expressed his admiration: “It’s true that there aren’t many of us, and it’s great to see Aleks. I really like him as a person, and we have a good relationship. He has Serbian roots, and so does his whole family. We’ve trained together several times. We had only faced each other once before, I believe on clay. I watched some of his best moments in this tournament. He is hitting the ball impressively. I don’t remember playing against a player who wasn’t very tall and served so well. It was incredible.”
Djokovic admitted that, although he did not find his ideal rhythm on his serves, Kovacevic made his life difficult on the court, highlighting the number of aces and easy points the American managed to achieve through his serve. “That’s something I told him at the net. He had a fantastic serving performance. He’s on the right track. I’ve always liked him as a player, and his one-handed backhand is increasingly rare these days. He’s talented, and in recent years it seems he has lacked consistency. Now, it seems like things are working out for him. It was a balanced match until the last two points,” Djokovic added.
When asked what the concept of “tennis IQ” means to him, Djokovic gave a deep and reflective answer. “It means knowing how to find a way out, a solution. It can be described in various ways. I highly value a tennis player’s ability to adapt to the situation. It’s essential to have a complete game. For me, a lot depends on how I perceive the evolution of my game and that of other players, what I do before an official match, and the discipline I apply in my daily life. If everything revolves around tennis, if we cultivate a mindset that helps us improve,” he explained.
He also emphasized that “tennis IQ is defined by a diligent, holistic, and multidisciplinary approach. When you have many shots you can rely on, you feel more comfortable finding different solutions. If you’re not satisfied with your plan A or B, you need to have a plan C, D, E, F… It’s essential to adapt to each player, surface, and condition.”
Finally, Djokovic also addressed the issue of gender parity in tennis. “It is a fact. Tennis is by far the most successful women’s sport worldwide. It is also the one that generates the most revenue, so it’s fantastic to see it. I feel happy and proud. I think it is in a good position,” concluded the tennis icon, making clear his support for the growth and success of women’s sports.
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