Novak Djokovic refused to blame the crowd for his loss to Rafael Nadal in the French Open final and insists he now has extra motivation to come back and try and win the only major title that has eluded him.
Despite clinching the opening set, Djokovic missed out on a chance to join an elite club of just seven players who have completed a career grand slam as well as a return to the No1 spot, by losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 to Nadal in Paris.
Facing match point in the fourth set, Djokovic was interrupted by someone shouting out in the crowd while he was about to hit a second serve, and the world No2 ended up double-faulting to hand a ninth Roland Garros title to the Spaniard.
It is bizarrely the second French Open final Djokovic has lost to Nadal on a double fault.
“At the end of the day, it’s very emotional. A lot of tension was on the court, you can feel that. I cannot find excuses in the crowd. and I cannot blame anybody. It’s all part of the sport,” said Djokovic.
Nadal also refused to condemn the fan who shouted out, saying: “It’s difficult, the only feeling for me was winning.
“It was unfair what happened. It distracted him more than usual and it was combined with the pressure of facing a match point. I am sorry for him but to finish like this or in another way, it doesn’t make a difference.”
A clearly disappointed Djokovic tried to be philosophical about his defeat – which was his third consecutive one to Nadal at the French Open, and 23rd overall in 42 meetings.
The Serb, who suffered the same fate against his opponent in the semi-finals here last year and the final in 2012, received an emotional standing ovation during the trophy ceremony and he says it has given him further reason to continue to fight for this title.
“It was fantastic,” he said. “Of course, it’s right after you go off the court and you want this title so much and you don’t win it for several years now, and it’s disappointing. But, you have to put things in perspective and see where I come from and what kind of life I have. It’s a blessing.
“So to be able to also be appreciated by the fans the way I was in the end of the match just gives me more strength and motivation to come back here and try till the end of my career hopefully to get at least a title.”
