The COVID-19 pandemic has caused several tragedies, but also a media/journalistic boycott in Romania. Because, disgusted by Novak Djokovic and his refusal to get vaccinated, Cristian Tudor Popescu decided not to comment on the results of the world leader.
Cristian Tudor Popescu. PHOTO: The Truth Archive
If, gradually, the pandemic restrictions fell, on the other hand, Cristian Tudor Popescu's option of not commenting on the performances of the Serbian player remained in force. Until today! Because now, impressed by Nole's progress at the French Open 2024 – he is in the quarters and will meet, on Wednesday, Casper Ruud (7 ATP) – CTP published a tasty text, in his characteristic style, on his page of Facebook.
What did Cristian Tudor Popescu write?
Brain fight
It's been a long time since I wrote about a Djoković match. His behavior in trying to play without a vaccine at the AOpen during the pandemic affected me badly.
But now, I can't, I just can't not write. It would also be unfair to tennis not to.
For 3 days now, I've been watching Djoković fall 5 times and get up 6. At 37 years old. Against opponents at least 10 years younger.
The great Serbian contradicted my perceptions settled in more than half a century of life in tennis. I pretended to know, by the way the players looked and moved, who was going to lose the match before it was even over. At 2-1 in sets to an exceptional Lorenzo Musetti, I clearly saw Djoković as the loser. Everything about him conveyed the message: “I can't do it anymore.” With Francisco Cerundolo it was even more: 2-1 in sets and 4-2 for the Argentine who came rolling. I had the impression that Djoković was sinking into the slag, like a wax statue, that in a quarter of an hour it was over.
Each time, I think the three-time Roland Garros champion did one hell of a difficult and dangerous thing, in a way I've never seen anyone but Rafael Nadal do: he silenced his own brain. The thought “You can't do it anymore, you've already done too much, you're 37 years old, everything has a limit, there's no point in struggling anymore, you're breaking everything” is generated by the brain, not the body. The body always has resources “in the red” – the protective barriers of the brain prevent you from reaching them. Djoković broke them.
The moment when, after making an impossible volley, with a split, full extension, on Cisco Kid's extreme cross-country pass under the net, he fell with his chest on the clay and found the strength to imitate the flight of the plane with his arms, for public (which, rarely, was on his side), I understood that he would win. In 10 sets, towards 10 hours of play.
I write these lines with gratitude. Because the millennial Djoković is one of the very few players for whom I still watch today's tennis. There's only one thing I can't do like I used to: say Nole…
