Tennis star Radu Albot’s theory was proven right after he delivered his verdict on the difference between facing Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. The 34-year-old reached the main draw of the US Open after winning three qualifying rounds, which pitted him against Djokovic for the first time in his career.
While facing the 24-time Grand Slam champion is never easy, Albot played against a supremely confident Djokovic, having recently clinched Olympic gold for Serbia to claim the missing piece in his long list of honours. Their recent clash at the Arthur Ashe Stadium ended in a straight sets victory for Djokovic (6-2, 6-2, 6-4).
It is not the only time that Albot has been tasked with facing a tennis legend, twice facing off against Federer. However, ahead of his US Open clash, former world no.39 Albot admitted to We Love Tennis: “I’m aware that Novak is a tougher opponent than Federer, whom I’ve faced twice.”
The Moldovan was competing in the main draw of a Grand Slam for the 30th time in his career but had never faced a champion at a major. Having previously won a set against Federer during a three-set clash in Miami, the current world No 138 hoped to use that experience in his match against Djokovic but felt it would be a more daunting task – something that proved to be the case as he suffered a straight-sets loss.
“I think [playing against Federer] helps. I think it helps also what to expect from the crowd and I think it also helps the experience of what to expect from one of the greatest of all time as well,” Albot told ATP Tour. “When I was playing against Roger, I was going to the court only with the idea to win the match. I was not thinking, ‘Oh, I wish I take a game’, or, ‘I wish I take a set’, or something like that. No, I was going just to win.
“Novak is more complex. He has great physical [attributes], of course. He is moving great. He has great shots from both wings, forehand and backhand and serve and at the net, he’s good as well. So from this experience that I have from the previous matches playing Roger, Andy and other big guys, it will help me for sure the next match.
“Just on the court, especially in a five-setter, it’s a little bit different, because a lot of things can happen during the match. It’s a long match, and I just have to be prepared mentally and to make the correct adjustments during the match.”
Despite predicting how his match with Djokovic would unfold, Albot will still hold his head high. He refused to blame the luck of the draw after working hard to qualify for the US Open and simply hoped to make himself and Moldova proud in such a high-profile match.
“Of course, I’m not going to be crying and be like, ‘Oh, I’m unlucky’. Of course. I’m looking forward to this challenge, and I would like to see what I can do, how I can play, and how the match is going to be, especially that it’s going to be on a big court with a full house,” Albot added.
“It’s going to be all over the world on TV. I already got so many messages from back home about wishing me luck and beating Novak that I don’t have anything else to do, just to go there and to do my best, to compete at my best.
“I know if I play good, I’ll be happy. Of course, I go on the court to win. But we know who Djokovic is. We know his records. We know his achievements.
“We know his confidence, especially after winning the Olympics now recently. So I’ll just go there and try to focus on myself, and if I play well, I think I’ll be happy with that.”
Despite his first-round defeat, Albot still walked away with a handsome $100,000 (£76,853) cheque while Djokovic will now take on compatriot Laslo Djere in the second round.