Novak Djokovic explained why he agreed to exhibition matches with Grigor Dimitrov and Juan Martin Del Potro.
Djokovic is known for his strict schedule and lifestyle throughout his career. This means the 24-time Grand Slam champion has not played many exhibitions in the past to ensure he is in the right condition for the long ATP season.
The Serbian represented his country last week at the Davis Cup, teaming up with Hamad Medjedovic to secure victory against Greece. Stefanos Tsitsipas’ absence from the tie made Serbia’s victory very likely from the start.
Djokovic generated headlines with comments about his priorities after the triumph over Greece. The former world No. 1 said he was done with events like the ATP Finals and that Grand Slams and representing Serbia are now his priorities.
It is unclear whether Djokovic was being hyperbolic or not. He is on the entry list for the Shanghai Masters and will need to get points there to have a chance of qualifying for this year’s ATP Finals.
Djokovic’s willingness to play exhibition events demonstrates that he is more relaxed than he used to be. His exhibition with Dimitrov will be played at 8 pm tonight, Eastern European Summer Time, at the Postbank Visa Tennis Gala in Bulgaria.
His exhibition match with Del Potro is scheduled for Sunday, December 1st, at the Mary Teran de Weiss Stadium, Buenos Aires. The exhibition will be Del Potro’s final match before officially retiring.
Djokovic spoke about the motivation behind accepting Del Potro and Dimitrov’s requests for matches. He said how exciting Del Potro was to watch in his prime was one reason for agreeing to play in his farewell match.
“Del Potro is retiring from tennis with this exhibition match. We all know the impact that he has left on tennis in general. He has been one of the most exciting players to watch in the last two decades.”
“Plus, the charisma, the character-very lovable guy, very likable guy. We’ve seen so much support [for him] around the world, and particularly in his home country, Argentina. So, that should be a great event. It should be a phenomenal experience to play there and be part of this farewell match.”
A sense of loyalty was one of the crucial reasons behind Djokovic choosing to play with Dimitrov in his home country. The Bulgarian played in Djokovic’s controversial Adria Tour during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Serbian spoke with Dimitrov at that time about eventually playing in Bulgaria.
“With Grigor, he came to Serbia to play in the Adria Tour exhibition a few years ago, and then we agreed that I’m going to play with him in Bulgaria when the time arrives and it’s suitable for both of us. So, now is the time, and I look forward to it. I never played in Bulgaria, and we are obviously culturally very similar nations and people. So, that’s going to be fun,”
