By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday March 21, 2025
Novak Djokovic on a three-match losing streak? What even is that? A man with 1131 lifetime wins, 99 lifetime titles and 24 at the majors, losing three in a row?
The Grand Slam king has hit a difficult patch since he injured his hamstring during his quarterfinal victory over Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open, but the 37-year-old believes he is close to getting things on track ahead of his second-round meeting with Rinky Hijikata at the Miami Open.
“Let's say that I'm in pursuit to find that desired level of tennis,” he told reporters on Thursday. “Haven't played my best or even close to my best in Indian Wells, in Doha, after I retired from my semifinal in Australia.”
Six-time Miami champion Djokovic is still bidding for his 100th career title, something that has eluded him since he stormed to the Olympic gold medal last summer in Paris.
“I haven't been able to find that quality of tennis that I've been looking for,” he said. “I've been working hard, giving my all on the practice court, and eventually it's going to come.
“I played great in Australia. I thought I had a pretty good shot at the title in Melbourne. It's unfortunate that it ended for me the way it ended, but nevertheless, it's it's still encouraging for me to experience that I'm able to play the way I was playing in Australia, so I'm still able to win against the likes of Alcaraz – that that's probably the biggest reason why I still keep pushing myself, motivating myself, because I know I still have it in my in my legs, in my hands, in my arms. I still have that tennis that can put me in a good position to win the biggest titles in the sport.”