The four weeks of recovery were left behind and Novak Djokovic feels tennis again in Japan. His first participation in the Tokyo tournament has unleashed passions among fans. From training, in the company of Yosuke Watanuki and Borna Coric, to the debut in the doubles box with Filip Krajinovic, where he has not been able to avoid defeat in the first round.

The Serbian couple fell to Brazil's Bruno Soares and Croatia's Mate Pavic (2-6 6-4 and 4-10) in 79 minutes. A bitter staging for the 'number one' of the ATP, which on Tuesday opens before the Australian Alexei Popyrin on the third turn of the Ariake Colosseum. In the second round, the local Go Soeda is waiting for him, perhaps the least competent opponent of a part of the team that David Goffin, Lucas Pouille or Dennis Shapovalov also travel through.

The Belgrade tennis player intends to strengthen his leadership in the ranking against Rafa Nadal in a contest that distributes 500 points for the winner. At the moment, his advantage against the last winner of the US Open after the 16 tournaments played by both in 2019 remains at 640 points.

The tyrant of Asia

However, Nole's physical condition is still wrapped in a nebula. Not even he and his coaching staff seem to be very clear about the evolution of that left shoulder that forced him to retire before Stan Wawrinka in New York. The only certainty is that after too many rumors about relapses and urgent visits to a doctor in Switzerland, the tennis player from Belgrade has returned to Asia, one of his favorite scenarios.

In the last decade, its spectacular balance in the Beijing and Shanghai tournaments translates into 62 wins and four losses, including a 29-0 in the Chinese capital. However, Novak, 32, has skipped the last three editions of Beijing, where Nadal can add this year the points that give him access to the top of the ranking.

Djokovic, during his doubles match with Krajikovic.

Apart from these calculations, Djokovic enjoys warm Japanese hospitality these days and has allowed himself the pleasure of visiting a sumo dohyo , where he was able to meet Akebono, the legendary yokozuna of the last years of the last century.

"I've never had this experience before. It was fantastic," said the winner of 16 Grand Slam titles. "I felt somewhat strong for the sumo, but I think a few more kilos would be ready to compete," he joked.

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  • Rafael Nadal
  • Novak Djokovic
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