A barrage of 25 aces from explosive Nick Kyrgios bounced Novak Djokovic out of Acapulco last week.
The second-ranked Serbian departed with a 12-word press conference knowing full well actions must speak louder than words as he prepares to launch defense of his Indian Wells and Miami Masters championships.
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Djokovic is defending 2,000 ranking points over the next month, a key stretch of the season as he tries to close the gap on No. 1 Andy Murray.
Wimbledon champion Murray is defending just 90 points total at Indian Wells and Miami, but then shoulders the burden of 5,620 ranking points on the line through the end of the US Open.
Hall of Famer Ilie Nastase believes Djokovic will find his groove during the American spring hard-court season, telling Sky Sports he expects the Roland Garros champion to bounce back.
I think he's going to be back," said Nastase. "He can just play from Monday to Sunday and start fresh on Monday like others. People don't understand that. There's just pressure for him to win week-by-week and you get tired and you cannot concentrate for so long.
"Maybe the other guys play well, that's also possible. But Djokovic is a great champion and you have to count on him coming back, that's for sure. He's a fighter."
The touch artist nicknamed "Nasty" told Sky Sports Roger Federer's passion for the sport is a key to his success and called critics who have suggested Federer should retire "stupid."
"I like Roger Federer because they ask him, 'What do you think you are going to do? Do you think you are going to win?' " Nastase said. "And he says something that I like just, 'I'm just happy to play tennis again'. And then he won the tournament.
"That means that he loves to play tennis. I don't agree when people sometimes like you saying that you have to retire when you play your best—it's stupid."
Photo credit: Shanghai Rolex Masters