NEW YORK: Never mind forehands, backhands and aces. At the US Open, a player needs to be up to speed on a host of issues including Russia’s anti-gay laws, international fraud, diets and dogs.
In a sport where all top stars are required to carry out press conferences following virtually every match -- world number one Novak Djokovic played 87 singles matches in 2012 -- talking tennis can become rather tedious.
Top seed Djokovic, the 2011 US Open champion, made the third round on Friday and reeled off a well-rehearsed explanation of how he fought off two set points in the first set against opponent Benjamin Becker.
After that, it was open house.
“Thank God. This is first time I’m going to talk about him,” said Djokovic.
Him? Becker? No, he was talking of Neven Markovic, a childhood pal from Belgrade who is carving out a football career with Swiss second division side Servette.
Next up for Djokovic -- the appetizing taste or otherwise of the famed gluten-free diet, which the Serb has long credited for the fire fueling his rise to the top.
“You can have gluten-free pizza, but the regular one is better. Toughest for me was definitely chocolate... we used to have at home a lot of sweets, as I think everyone on this planet loves sweets.”
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal, the 2010 champion, dissed fad diets, preferring his trusty Spanish seafood as well as hours in the gym and practice courts.
“If have the gluten-free diet or have the perfect diet or these kind of things that are supposed to change you or a big sacrifice, that means your are not being happy the rest of the day, not fresh mentally,” said Nadal.
Last year’s beaten finalist Victoria Azarenka was also dragged into the food debate after dropping just four games in her first two matches.
“Whole Foods is like Disneyland for me,” she said. AFP
