“I don’t recommend it”: Djokovic gave his opinion on the inclusion of the five sets in the women’s circuit

Despite registering a start with more doubts than certainties, the Serbian Novak Djokovic (3rd) brought out all his category and experience at the right time this Saturday to get rid of the Pole Kamil Majchrzak (57th) by 4-6, 6-1 and 6-2 and advance to the third round of the Indian Wells Masters 1000.

Already in the traditional press conference, the legendary Balkan, 38 years old and owner of 101 titles at the highest level, did not avoid any questions as usual when referring to his main professional objective for the future, the great start to the season of the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz (1st) and the human warmth of the Frenchman Gael Monfils (148th), as well as one of the topics of the moment such as inclusion of five sets in the women’s circuit.

After the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (1st) was in favor and the Polish Iga Swiatek (2nd) against, among others, the five-time champion in the Californian desert did not hesitate to point out the physical inclemencies involved in extending the fight for at least one more round, remembering some of his historic battles in Grand Slam tournaments.

“I don’t recommend it. When you prepare for a Grand Slam, in which we play best of five, it feels something completely different, a Tour completely different with different physical and mental preparation“, highlighted the former number 1 in the ATP world ranking, drawing dissimilarities between a traditional event, whether ATP 250 or 500 or Masters 1000, and the main ones on the men’s calendar.

Along the same lines, the gold medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games continued: “Some matches can last three, four, five or six hours. I have played the longest Grand Slam final in history. I was part of it with Nadal in 2012, when we played almost six hours in Australia. It is incredibly exhausting and demanding.. “I recently played Jannik, I think between four and a half to five hours in Australia.”

“Back in 2012 my body recovered much faster than it does today after a marathon and long matches. It’s true that you have a day between Grand Slam matches but when you play one for four or five hours it is simply seriously affecting your physical condition. Very difficult to recover and be ready for the next challenge“said ‘Nole’, who will face the local Alexander Kovacevic (72nd) in search of access to the round of 16 of the North American competition.

“You may play well the next match but then, the further you go in the tournament, the more physically exhausted you become.. That’s the issue. Mentally too of course. But physically it’s a completely different animal that you face in a Grand Slam compared to anything we have in the Tour“Djokovic closed, warning women about a possible change in the short term.

All the activity of the Indian Wells Masters 1000 can be followed LIVE on Disney+ Premium Plan.