Novak Djokovic has provided a reason for his 'worst performance of the year' during his 1-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 match Wimbledon triumph against Alex de Minaur on Monday.
The Serbian tennis legend was not at his peak during the first set before securing a place in the quarter-finals by defeating the next three opponents on Centre Court.
John McEnroe criticized the 38-year-old player for his performance in the first set while serving as a commentator for the event. BBC prior to him reversing the situation.
I can't recall him delivering a poorer performance like this," McEnroe remarked. "It has been years, really.
'He is completely embarrassed about himself... It won't be possible for him to keep playing so poorly.'
If he continues for two more games, he'll stop immediately. I anticipate that if he keeps playing this way for another two games—though I don't believe it will occur—but witnessing him perform like this is amazing.
Djokovic: Federer placed a spell on me
After the game, Djokovic mentioned that he felt he was under a 'curse' imposed by his previous opponent, Roger Federer, who was present in the audience during the match.
"I suppose this might be the first instance when he (Federer) is witnessing my victory," Djokovic mentioned during his post-match interview.
Recently, I've been losing quite often, so it's nice to put an end to that streak. Of course, having Roger here is definitely a big plus.
He is an outstanding athlete whom I greatly looked up to and had immense respect for. We performed together on numerous occasions over the years, and it's wonderful to see him return to his most prosperous and beloved competition, without a doubt.
Djokovic minimizes his abdominal problem following victory
When asked whether he had stomach problems during the game, Djokovic replied, "No, everything was fine. I was simply focusing on controlling my breath occasionally."
After engaging in 30-point exchanges from behind the baseline, it's clear you require a break and you aren't afforded much time. Perhaps this was true.
Djokovic also acknowledged that he felt 'anxious' before facing Australia's 11th seed De Minaur.
I enjoy winning straightforwardly, honestly, if possible," Djokovic added. "As you move further in the tournament, the matches will only become more challenging.
'Alex de Minaur has remained within the top 10 or top 15 rankings over the past few years, making him a challenging opponent, particularly on this type of court.'
So I was certainly more anxious entering this game, and I believe that showed in the first set.
It was an extremely challenging match with many tough situations for me. At times, I wished I could have a serve-and-volley style or a delicate touch similar to Federer's, which would make things easier!
But hey, I can't be upset. I still need to do a lot of running, and that's okay, it's part of my sport.