Novak Djokovic feels players are partly to blame for longer Masters events
Novak Djokovic criticised his fellow players for not being willing to fight for their interests.The Serbian co-founded the Professional Tennis Players Association, which is currently engaged in legal action against the tours, to try to give athletes more of a voice and has been a leading advocate for increased prize money and other welfare changes.AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementDjokovic will play his first tournament since Wimbledon at the US Open as he resumes his search for a 25th grand slam title, with the 38-year-old revealing he skipped the recent Masters 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati because he finds them too long.The move towards lengthening Masters tournaments to almost two weeks has not been popular with many players and fans, but Djokovic believes his competitors partly have themselves to blame.“I support the players,” said the former world number one, who believes prize money still needs to go higher than the record 90million US dollars on offer at Flushing Meadows.AdvertisementAdvertisement Advertisement“But, in the end of the day, when the players needed to be active and when there was a time of negotiations and decision-making, players weren’t participating enough.“This is an ongoing story of the players, particularly top players. They express their feelings, but then when you really need to put in the time and the energy into conversations, meetings – which I know it’s very difficult, I have been there, trust me, many times.“But it’s necessary because then you’re doing something not only for yourself but future generations, and you’re making the right moves, the right steps, and contributing.”It is now two years since Djokovic won his most recent grand slam title, with this season seeing him fall in the semi-finals at all the major tournaments.AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementHis motivation for the biggest events remains strong but other priorities have taken over.“I’m not chasing the rankings or building up my points or defending, I just don’t think about it anymore,” he said.“For me, it’s really about where do I find motivation and joy? Where will I be inspired to play the best tennis? And where do I care to be, really, and play?Novak Djokovic embraces Jannik Sinner after their Wimbledon semi-final (John Walton/PA)“And slams are obviously the four main tournaments where I always feel the most motivation. I don’t actually have any schedule other than slams, to be honest.“I kind of like feel in the moment what I want to do and how I want to balance things out with other priorities in life, family being, of course, the main one and being there for the important dates, speaking of which I’m maybe going to miss out on my daughter’s birthday.AdvertisementAdvertisement Advertisement“It’s the second of September, so if I’m doing well, I’m still here. But those are types of things that I really don’t want to be missing anymore.”Djokovic finds himself once more in the position of the hunter, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz bidding to make it eight slam titles in a row between them.The Serbian revealed he is rooting for a third challenger to emerge from the younger generation, just as he did when he turned Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s duopoly into a big three.“I think their rivalry is amazing,” said Djokovic. “What they have done in the previous two years is remarkable for both of these players.AdvertisementAdvertisement Advertisement“And then you have obviously other young players that are definitely going to challenge them, and hopefully somebody can get in the mix. I kind of empathise with the third guy, because I was in those shoes with Federer and Nadal. I want to see a third guy coming in.”
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