As we remember, Novak Djokovic struggled a lot during his early years on the Tour, calling for medical timeouts and collecting a few strikeouts during his matches.
For example, Djokovic couldn’t stay on court for an entire match against Roger Federer in Monte Carlo 2008, and he also retired to the Australian Open the following January against Andy Roddick.
Thus, Novak failed to defend the crown he claimed in Melbourne a year ago, feeling unwell after a few grueling encounters and leaving the court as Andy led by 6-7, 6- 4, 6-2, 2-1, after two and a half hours of play.
Roddick lost the first set, but everything was going pretty well in his game, scoring 43 winners and 14 unforced errors to keep the pressure on the defending champion. For this meeting, Novak wanted to compete during the night session, but the organizers refused and put him under a scorching sun and high temperatures.
There was no break in the first set and Novak won the first four points of the tie-break with winning forehands. Djokovic placed a winning volley at the net at 4-2 and won the set with another powerful forehand at 6-3.
Andy took the first break at 3-3 in set two with a winning smash, and landed a winning serve at 5-4 to close the set and gain a boost. Struggling more and more physically, Djokovic lost his serve early in the third set when Roddick landed a perfect winning forehand on the line before pulling the break in the next play.
Novak Djokovic retired against Andy Roddick in Melbourne 2009
After forcing his rival’s mistake, Andy broke again at 2-2 and held on at 4-2 with another ace on the T-line.
After hitting a double fault, Djokovic fell to 5-2 and allowed Roddick to conclude the set with a winning serve in the eighth game. At the start of the fourth set, the Serbian saved four break opportunities and shot a backhand. winning on the line to avoid an early setback.
It was also before he lost his serve at 40-0 and 1-1, and before he decided to end his misery and retire. “The main reason I left was cramps and pain all over my body.
I struggled with my movements, it was obvious. From the third set, I couldn’t serve like in the previous part of the match, and the speed dropped by 20 or 30 km / h, making it easier for Andy to come back.
Plus he put the longer rallies to good use as I struggled with those. I tried my best, but sometimes you can’t fight your body. It’s an unfortunate Australian Open end for me.
I’ve had retirements in the past, but they always came with a good reason, because I couldn’t play anymore. I finished my previous match at 2:30 a.m. and went to bed at 6 a.m., so I didn’t have enough time to recover and didn’t have a training session yesterday.
It was difficult circumstances and the (weather) conditions were also extreme today. I was already feeling bad at the end of the second set, but I wanted to do my best and at least try.
I asked to play in the evening, but the organizers refused. I must turn the page and look to the future “, declared Novak Djokovic.
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