John McEnroe weighs in on Novak Djokovic's challenging 2022 season

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John McEnroe says Novak Djokovic was definitely affected by the whole Australia visa debacle and added it is "crazy" that the Serb could be ranked 40 in a few months. 

After being denied participation at the Australian Open, Djokovic was not allowed to enter the United States for Indian Wells and Miami. 

Now, Djokovic is set to lose 2,000 points at Wimbldon after the ATP sanctioned the tournament by removing ranking points. 

If the US Open started, Djokovic wouldn't be playing because unvaccinated individuals are not allowed to enter the country. 

“I don’t think he’s gotten over it yet,” McEnroe said on BBC, per Tennis365. “He’s as tough as they ever come. He’s had many, many occasions where he’s had to deal with crowds that are not on his side against those two other great ones – Rafa and Roger – yet he’s right there with them which tells you something about his mental fortitude. But this was one nobody anticipated. I don’t think he was able to deal with the ramifications even though he stood firm on his belief, which he is entitled to do and the decision was made."

McEnroe on the Djokovic situation: It is crazy and unfortunate

The 2022 season has been extremely tough for Djokovic and it might get even tougher.

“The bottom line is I can’t imagine it didn’t affect him in a big way and I think that’s why he maybe didn’t train as much and he looked – for him – a little out of shape in Monte Carlo," McEnroe added. “Then he looked like he had it together at the French but to me, having not played a slam match since the [US] Open, I think it caught up with him there [at Roland Garros]. Now he’s got that even more ramped-up pressure that I assume he’s put on himself, especially if he can’t play the US Open. He could win this and he could be ranked 40 in the world in a few months because he can’t play anything in the States. It’s crazy. It’s unfortunate.”

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/D1BTxF5

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