Novak Djokovic has had his share of problems in the last year. Mostly starting back in July of 2017, where the Serbian was rumored to have been “hooking up” with tennis celebrity chef Lauren Von Der Pool.
This relationship with the private chef caused all sorts of problems in his marriage with Jelena and subsequently caused issues on the tennis court. The two haven’t split up or anything, but there was the ever famous “Facebook Live” debacle (happens at the end of the video and it’s in Serbian) that lead to rumors of the two not spending as much time together. While she has been at several of his matches since then, it just doesn’t seem like
Later in 2017, Novak Djokovic had some troubling elbow issues that required him to have surgery in February of 2018. The elbow problem started giving him issues late in 2017 which Novak claimed was only minor. After a few short months, Novak Djokovic confirmed it was a bit more than minor.
Novak Djokovic Looks TOO Skinny
What’s more troubling than his private life and his elbow issue is his current weight. Since switching to a vegetarian diet in 2015, then moving to a vegan diet sometime in 2016. The Serbian has, most recently, gone to a plant based diet (though, he has admitted to “sometimes” having fish).
There are numerous studies out there that following a vegan or plant based diet is a healthy choice (we could always use more veggies, no?). I believe that Novak Djokovic has taken it a little too far. The dude is starting to look frail:
Not only does he look really tired in the above picture (taken at the 2018 Miami Open), but he’s looking like he is seriously lacking some nutrients.
In comparison, here is Novak Djokovic back in 2015 at the Australian Open, where he looks like he’s got a little more muscle mass:
Now I’m no nutritionist, though it seems like of the pictures above, the 2015 picture is a better representation of what Novak Djokovic looked like at his best and what he should look like today.
If you recall, there was a time that Novak was winning everything in sight. During that era, Novak was following a vegan diet. The former #1 was less injury prone and appeared to be a bit more fit. These days, however, he looks like an old man out there. Remember the Australian Open? Sure, he wasn’t match ready (having missed the tune-up tournaments due to elbow injury) but he never fully “looked” ready to be there.
This is where the nutrition comes into play. Tennis nutrition is key for optimal performance, we all know that. What concerns me is if Novak Djokovic is getting enough proteins and carbohydrates to perform at the highest levels.
Right now, he just looks like a shell of the player he used to be. Even today, he lost at the 2018 Miami Open in the second round (Novak got a first round bye as the 9th seed) to Benoit Paire; who is unseeded and has only met Djokovic once before. Paire lost that match in straight sets. Novak just looked lost out there today. As if he wasn’t interested in playing and had just picked up a tennis racquet for the first time in years. Kind of embarrassing really.
Novak Djokovic Needs a Steak
Of course that is a satirical statement, though he should really think about adding some meaty proteins to his diet. He looks old, disinterested, and plain unhealthy. He should really consider reassessing his diet and mentality of the game.
Then again, he could go back with the “Love Guru” Pepe Imaz (<- Just kidding, he should not do that).
What do you think? More meat? Hang up the racquets and end his career? Or, he’s just fine?
Let me know in the comments section below!
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