Novak Djokovic’s shock loss to Italian upstart Jannik Sinner at the Dubai Tennis Championships prompted some skepticism from former British player Laura Robson, who felt Djokovic didn’t display his usual effort and fight.
Robson questioned if Djokovic “tanked” the match, speculating he wasn’t fully motivated weeks after winning the Australian Open yet again. “It’s bizarre from Djokovic,” remarked Robson. “That scoreline makes it look like he just wanted out of there.”
According to Robson, Djokovic’s subpar movement and lack of intensity against the rising Sinner were red flags. She expected more resilience, especially after Djokovic complained of illness pre-match.
While crediting Sinner, Robson implied Djokovic almost conceded the contest after dropping the first set, behavior very uncharacteristic for the fiercely competitive Serbian.
However, Robson admitted we may never know Djokovic’s true motivations. “Only he knows if his heart was really in it,” she concluded.
Djokovic has yet to address the upset loss. But the skeptical analysis from Robson and other tennis experts highlights how stunning it was to see the world #1 fall meekly in his first match post-Australian Open glory.
If Djokovic was indeed healthy, his effort and execution versus Sinner was shockingly poor. For a player with his champion’s pedigree, Djokovic earned criticism for an oddly lifeless performance when fans expected a dogfight.
