Novak Djokovic has been the centre of a near storm every time he has taken to the terracotta courts of the Foro Italico.
First it was in the tournament’s beautiful centre stage, the 12,000-seater Court Centrale, where he charmed a near capacity crowd on the Saturday even before matches got under way.
Next it was in the lovely Pietrangeli basin, this time playing some intense practice games against the man who had taken him to five-setters in their last three Grand Slam matches, winning the last in Australia this year: Stan Wawrinka. It was, perhaps not surprisingly, standing room only.
He went on to charm the media, too, happy to be asked about impending fatherhood, but being as astute as had been Roger Federer during the months before the birth of his twins. Djokovic began by congratulating his colleague, before revealing that his fiancee Jelena Ristic had him under strict orders: “I have been told not to say too much. I cannot say the date, but it will happen at the end of the year.”
However it was not news of his private life that took centre stage once the niceties were out of the way. Djokovic returns to the tour in Rome for the first time since he lost to Federer in Monte Carlo in April, since when he has been recovering from a wrist problem.
“It was a big decision not to go to Madrid, but I had to assess the risk in competing as it might have compromised my participation in future tournaments. I did not want it to become chronic. The wrist is something that is always active as a tennis player.
“I have practised and my wrist has been monitored. All the experts—a few doctors and my physiotherapist—said that after I played points and full training, I was able to return to tournament play. Right now, I feel confident about the state of my wrist. I am more ready than I was one week ago to play a match.”
I hope being fresh in a very congested period of season can give me that edge
Novak Djokovic
And Rome has been a happy hunting ground for the world No2. He won the title in 2008—beating Wawrinka in the Swiss man’s first Masters final—and in 2011, when he beat Nadal. In his seven previous visits, he has put together a 24-5 record, reaching at least the quarter-finals every year.
As for this year, it took him a couple of tournaments to build a head of steam after a storming conclusion to 2013: He was unbeaten after reaching the final of the US Open, claiming four titles. But as he opened in Rome, he was on a 13-1 run in Masters tournaments with Indian Wells and Miami in his pocket.
Did he feel, though, that missing Madrid would affect his Rome hopes, and more crucially for Djokovic, his desire to claim a first French Open title?
“Having missed Madrid, it might influence my first match here against [Radek] Stepanek because I haven’t played many matches on clay this season and we are coming close to Roland Garros. But on the other side, I hope being fresh in a very congested period of season can give me that edge.”
Stepanek, at 35 years of age, is the second oldest man in the top 50, and still favouring an old-fashioned serve-and-volley game. But make no mistake, he can be a dangerous player on any surface. Even here, the first year Djokovic won the Rome title, Stepanek beat David Ferrer and Federer before falling to the Serb in the semis.
Asked about Stepanek’s game, Djokovic was full of praise: “He plays with a lot of touch and talent: flat shots, comes to the net, one of the few players who serve and volleys on different surfaces. He has a very nice variety and anticipation on the court. Even though he is 35, he still moves well for his age.”
And the Czech veteran certainly looked dangerous in the opening couple of games, his fast style of play and short points overcoming the blustery conditions to break Djokovic. It then took six deuces before Djokovic finally got the chance to break back, and he did. After 13 minutes, they were still 1-1.
Now, though, Djokovic visibly began to find his timing and length, held to love, and in the sixth game, broke again with his signature backhand down the line.
It did not divert Stepanek from his game one iota, and he threatened again on the Djokovic serve, but the Serb held for 5-2 and served out the set, 6-3.
The No2 seed had made just one error for 12 winners: Little wonder, perhaps, that Stepanek had failed to hold his early advantage. More telling still, Djokovic had decided to take the net out of the Czech’s control, making seven volley winners out of 10 chances.
Djokovic was the first to take the lead in the second set, breaking early despite clearly having trouble with the dusty conditions. But just as he seemed to be in control, Stepanek made some clean strikes to level the match at 4-4 and the Italian crowd came alive.
Three more breaks followed, first Djokovic leading, then Stepanek closing, but at the key stage, the Serb held to take the set and match, 7-5.
When asked before the match if he thought he too would still be playing at 35, he laughed.
“I wish! I’m 27 soon, still a lot of years to go to 35. I don’t know if I’ll be able to play at the top level at 35, but I wish. Definitely. So in a way he’s a role model to me!” And he laughed again.
Djokovic could be up against another evergreen player next if No16 seed Tommy Robredo beats Philipp Kohlschreiber. He also happens to be in the half of the draw that boasts the highest ranked ‘mature’ stars: Ferrer and Roger Federer.
It looks as though the Seniors Tour will have to wait a while for its next generation of talent to join.
Elsewhere, qualifier Andrey Golubev beat Fernando Verdasco, 6-4, 7-5. Ernests Gulbis won just a single set, 6-1, before Alejandro Falla retired, and Marin Cilic advanced against a retiring Santiago Giraldo.
And to round things off nicely, the only man older than Stepanek in the draw, Tommy Haas, got the better of Andreas Seppi, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.