Two-time French Open runner-up Alex Corretja has discussed the difficult run Novak Djokovic is enduring as he emphasised the importance of the great Serbian finding solutions.
Djokovic is on a three-match losing streak heading into the Miami Open — where he will face world No 86 Rinky Hijikata in his opening match.
The 37-year-old started the 2025 season by reaching the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International, losing to Reilly Opelka.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner then impressed with victories over Tomas Machac, Jiri Lehecka and Carlos Alcaraz en route to the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
Djokovic was forced to retire after losing the first set of his last four showdown with Alexander Zverev in Melbourne due to a hamstring injury he sustained in his quarter-final win against Alcaraz.
The world No 5 has lost his two opening matches since the Australian Open: to Matteo Berrettini at the Qatar Open and Botic van de Zandschulp in Indian Wells.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Corretja weighed in on Djokovic’s form and suggested players now have more belief that they can beat the tennis legend.
“It did happen to me, of course,” the Spaniard said. “You feel like you’re practising quite well and your level is quite high, and you’re playing with players and you feel like you can beat them, but somehow, when you play matches, tournaments, you struggle.
Two-time French Open runner-up Alex Corretja has discussed the difficult run Novak Djokovic is enduring as he emphasised the importance of the great Serbian finding solutions.
Djokovic is on a three-match losing streak heading into the Miami Open — where he will face world No 86 Rinky Hijikata in his opening match.
The 37-year-old started the 2025 season by reaching the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International, losing to Reilly Opelka.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner then impressed with victories over Tomas Machac, Jiri Lehecka and Carlos Alcaraz en route to the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
Djokovic was forced to retire after losing the first set of his last four showdown with Alexander Zverev in Melbourne due to a hamstring injury he sustained in his quarter-final win against Alcaraz.
The world No 5 has lost his two opening matches since the Australian Open: to Matteo Berrettini at the Qatar Open and Botic van de Zandschulp in Indian Wells.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Corretja weighed in on Djokovic’s form and suggested players now have more belief that they can beat the tennis legend.
“It did happen to me, of course,” the Spaniard said. “You feel like you’re practising quite well and your level is quite high, and you’re playing with players and you feel like you can beat them, but somehow, when you play matches, tournaments, you struggle.
“So you really need to choose where you want to peak: let’s say in the majors, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and to see what you need to do to achieve that and if it means to play here or there beforehand.”
Djokovic, who is a six-time Miami Open champion, is playing the Masters 1000 tournament in South Florida for the first time since 2019.
