Is Reaching Semifinals Now Success For Novak Djokovic?

Winning two matches and then getting blown out by Rafael Nadal in the semifinals, Novak Djokovic still deemed his Madrid event a positive experience! Remember, Djokovic was down a break in the third to Nicolas Almagro in his first match, played a good match against a very favorable opponent in Feliciano Lopez and then earned a walkover against Kei Nishikori.

But Djokovic taking apart by Nadal ending his 7-match, 15-set win streak over the Spaniard. Yet, Djokovic, who was the defending champion, was overall happy with the week.

“It was really good to play in semifinals of big event, and to play against one of the top rivals I have in my life,” said Djokovic who’s last top 10 win was over Andy Murray in Doha. “I haven’t had that feeling in months, so it’s great to feel that.

“It was a positive week, a positive experience. I take, as I say, more positives than negatives into the next week in Rome. As I go along, I hope to continue getting better and getting stronger.

“I felt like I was playing well throughout the week. Today maybe slightly I could have played better. But, again, I just had an opponent that was too good.

“Semifinals is a good result. Hopefully, I’ll have another good result in Rome.”

Semifinals is now a “good result” for the former World No. 1? How times have changed.