Physical issues still frustrating Djokovic

Novak Djokovic refused to make excuses for his opening  loss at the Rome Masters to Croat qualifier Dino Cruznic 6-2, 2-6, 6-4..

The defeat in two and a quarter hours sent the Serb Icon into crisis mode, with the 24-time Grand Slam winner refusing to make excuses.

“”It’s not an ideal preparation, I don’t recall last time I had in the last coupleyears a preparation where I didn’t have some kind of physical issues or health issues coming into the tournament,” Djokovic said.

“There’s always something… a new reality that I have to deal with. Yeah, it is frustrating. At the same time it’s my decision to still perform in that kind of state and conditions. It is what it is.”

The six-time Rome champion could offer little insight into his preparedness for Roland Garros: “I don’t know. I hope (I will be ready.”)

As for his own Rome performance: “I don’t think I played so bad, to be honest. The second set was something to forget obviously the way I felt on the court. 

“But the first and third was okay – it was a good battle in the end.”

He added: “:I’m a late half a step. I’m definitely not where I want to be to  compete at the highest level and to be able to get far. 

“The situation is as it is. You just adapt to it and make the most out of it.

I train as much as the body allows me to. Then how it turns out on the court, that’s really unpredictable.”