TENNIS Internazionali BNL d’Italia – N. Djokovic d. R. Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. An interview with Novak Djokovic.
Q:You have beaten Rafa 4 times in a row and you’re now ready to steal his crown in Paris…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It’s been a great week, considering how I was few weeks ago with the injure at my wrist and didn’t know how the wrist is going to react this week. Luckily for me I played with no pain, increasing the level of my tennis as the week went on. I had some tough matches: 4 out of 5 were three setter and had to come back from one set down yesterday with Raonic and today giving me a lot of confidence. Winning a final of a great tournament with Rafa on clay is definitely is a confidence booster and an ultimate challenge. I am very happy with my game and I hope I can carry it to the Roland Garros. Today I tried to be aggressive from the start of the match, it didn’t work a lot and I made a lot of unforced errors but I didn’t change the game plan and the I found the hitting range, the right rhythm on the court and I felt much more comfortable on the court. Going into the match today I was hoping that I could win, of course, I come into every match like that. But I do not underestimate any opponent and especially Rafa who is the best player ever in the history on this surface, we all know his record. I didn’t feel I had the match in my hands, but I do have the belief in myself and my abilities that in the end….mental strength, experience would have helped me to stay calm and play the right shots at the right times.
Q:I saw you playing in a lot of countries but I never see a crowd like this in your favour.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It’s amazing, I want to thank them all, they played a great part in this win. It’s something that I don’t take for granted and I very appreciate, I try to give them back and show as much love as I can. Maybe helps that I speak a little bit of Italian, but I do really feel like home here and very close to these people and I am glad I was able to win the title in front of them.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: This match has gone over 2 hours: there were a lot rallies, long point, and this is part of our rivalry, especially on the slow surfaces where you get to play more rallies than on the fast ones. He’s physically the fittest player on tour but I know that I am pretty fit too and I know that with my team I have been doing a great job in the last two years getting myself in the right shape and this gives me the right confidence once I am on court. I know I can rally with him but I know that the only to beat him is to be aggressive.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I have to admit that I copied it from Gustavo Kuerten who did it in Paris: it’s the most spectacular celebration from many tennis players I have seen in my life. I felt that was something that come from inside me and I wanted to share with the crowd. And they liked it.
Q:As a soon father, how it was your reaction when the two children started to cry when you lost your serve? Do you remember?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I was not upset with the children, I was more upset with the people who were behind talking to them, applauding…. But look, it happens sometime with the crowd, it’s part of the sport.
Q:Regarding what is happening in your country, do you feel you were playing not just for yourself but for something bigger?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Absolutely. I have been following during the last 2 or 3 days what’s going on with this catastrophic flood. It’s something that has taken away a lot of hope and homes and not being present makes me sad because I cannot physically contribute because if I was there I would, definitely. As soon as the flood passes by we’ll need help from the world because the process of recovery in our country can last for months or year and it depends on how much help will we get. This is the biggest disaster in the history of our country and people internationally didn’t know much about it and that’s why I am trying to spread the awareness with yesterday’s event and talking about it a little bit more than usual. I see that many athletes in Serbia are not competing and choose to help they fellow Serbian instead, and this win and this trophy is dedicated to them.
