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The tournament on the courts in the center of the Foro Italico started with the focus on the returner, the Italian Jannik Sinner, who endured a three-month suspension and is finally able to play.
However, there will be no six-time champion Novak Djokovic on the courts in Rome, who thus remained at a score of 68-12 in this tournament. Novak was the winner in Rome in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2020 and 2022.
The fact that he didn't do well this spring did not surprise many, but it did give up on a major form check ahead of Roland Garros, which Novak mentioned earlier as one of the priorities in the season.
"The three-set tournament probably allows Novak to get through the draw and reach the round of 16, provided he's healthy. It seems like he is, but somehow it's really strange that he won't play in Rome, which puts me in a state of complete confusion. I can't understand such a decision," said Jim Courier.
It is not clear to Patrik Muratoglu either, who says that he cannot wait to see with what kind of focus Novak will come to Paris at the end of the month.
"Novak didn't look like himself in Monte Carlo and Madrid, neither physically nor motivationally. I'm really interested in how he will be in Paris, that's where we'll really know what he's up to," says Muratoglu.
Motivation
The Frenchman, who is currently the coach of Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka, says that the Serbian tennis player's lack of motivation is obvious.
"I was surprised by his performance in Monte Carlo and then in Madrid. For a guy like him, if he doesn't have motivation, then he shouldn't even be playing, because it seemed like he wasn't even trying to win. I'm not saying that he's not able to play better, of course he is, but I have the feeling that he's not physically ready. Tennis-wise, physically, for such tournaments, especially because he has no motivation. The question arises, why did he play them then? I don't understand it. Motivation is for him big thing, everything revolves around that and I've been saying that for a while," says Muratoglu.
After winning three Grand Slams in 2023, Djokovic was left without a single major crown last season. Even now, Novak emphasizes that his priorities are the Grand Slams, but Muratoglu says that he does not understand how he will be ready for them.
"After a great year in 2023, he was far from his level last season, except for the Olympics. He obviously needs to have one goal to concentrate on. The question is, can he allow himself not to play matches and prepare for grand slams? Nothing can replace playing matches. Of course, he doesn't have to play a lot, but he has to have at least a few matches that will give him the right attitude. Think in the style of, 'I'm going to a grand slam and everything will suddenly be in ok', that's a real gamble. I question his decision not to play," Muratoglu concluded.
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