Trying to gauge the simmering emotions of Novak Djokovic is becoming a more complex exercise than assessing who might end the year as world No 1.
The 29-year-old Serb’s volcanic inclinations again brought him close to trouble yesterday before he finally overcame Dominic Thiem. It was an eventually impressive 6-7, 6-0, 6-2 victory for Djokovic on his opening appearance at this year’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
The potential flashpoint came when he angrily hit a ball towards his coaching box. It bounced first and landed on a staircase and, while never looking a default offence, it might have given umpire Carlos Ramos food for thought had it hit a spectator. He gave a warning.
When it was pointed out that the outcome could have been serious if it had connected with someone in the crowd, Djokovic seemed to forget he had been playing indoors, replying: ‘It could have been, yes. It could have snowed in the O2 Arena as well, but it didn’t.’
He was riled by what seemed a reasonable line of questioning, given that he has been involved in similar scrapes this year.
‘You guys are unbelievable. You’re always picking these kind of things,’ said the world No 2. The incident occurred just after Djokovic had lost a dramatic first-set tiebreak 12-10 and he added: ‘I’m the only player who shows his frustration on the court? It’s not an issue for me. It’s not the first time I did it.’
Djokovic is an emotional player, as witnessed before in this undulating season. In the Italian Open final he bounced his racket into the crowd, which landed at the feet of a spectator.
In the French Open quarter-final only the swift reactions of a line judge saved the Serb from being defaulted, as the official just avoided getting a bouncing racket in the chest.
This time Djokovic appeared to be venting his spleen at his crowded support box, which contained the three coaches he has been using this season: Boris Becker, long-serving Marian Vajda and the spiritually inclined Spaniard, Pepe Imaz.
The strain of winning the French Open and a subsequent loss of form — by his very high standards — has weighed heavily, but it remains eminently possible that he can end 2016 as No 1 if he can outperform Andy Murray this week.
Whatever else, Djokovic helped get the year-end finals off to a fascinating start. Last year this tournament was marked by a succession of dreadful contests in the singles but this opener did not disappoint.
In taking the first set, Thiem only betrayed nerves when he missed seven set points, including consecutive double faults.
Thereafter, the Serb’s flash of anger seemed to do the trick and he resembled more his old self in the last two sets, although he was aided by the Austrian’s 47 unforced errors.
Djokovic is in the easier looking group, whose other match last night saw Milos Raonic beat Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-4.
Daily Mail