Novak Djokovic: “It's devastating times for three countries that have been suffering these terrible floods” - UBITENNIS

Novak Djokovic: “It's devastating times for three countries that have been suffering these terrible floods”

By Staff
9 Min Read

TENNIS 2014 ROLAND GARROS – 26th of May 2014. N. Djokovic d. J. Sousa 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. An interview with Novak Djokovic

Q. On a day like this, how do you approach all of the rain delays and everything? You play cards with boys?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Actually, I didn’t have that much time to spare in the locker room. So I spend time resting and just try and saving the energy, I guess, for what was coming up.

 

Q. Can I ask what you and the ball boy were talking about?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: We had a nice chat. He’s a tennis player, so I asked him how long he’s playing, and, you know, how he’s enjoying his time as a ball kid.

It was a nice, fun time, something unusual for the Grand Slams. But we waited for around 10 minutes in the pouring rain on the court, so I felt there’s something I should do and make a new friend (smiling). He accepted the offer to sit down, which I didn’t think he would do, but he did. So he’s very spontaneous little boy, and I hope I see him my next match.

 

Q. What are your thoughts on your performance today? What do you think about Chardy next round?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, today I played for most of the match quite solid. End of the match was not so nice from my side. Dropped the serve twice.

But, you know, very heavy conditions. The court is not that great, in a great condition at this moment. But of course, considering the amount of the rain that we had in last four or five days, it is not easy for people to maintain the court in the right state. They are doing their best.

In my opinion there are a few times today they maybe should have covered the court earlier. So I think the chair umpire should have made a decision earlier to take us off the court and cover the court. I’m talking for the court’s sake, you know, for a good condition, because it was a lot of rain.

I know that on clay, of course, we can play with certain, I guess, level of rain, but still it’s not that great for the court’s condition.

Considering my next opponent, playing French tennis player in France, we all know how challenging that is. He had a big win against Federer in Rome, so I’m sure he’s very motivated to play his best.

But I was looking forward to this tournament for a long time. I’m in a good form, and hopefully I can use that against Chardy.

 

Q. In Italian. But we cannot speak Italian. I listen to you. You were good, brilliant. Anyhow, let’s go with my poor English. Pigeon English, as they say. I read that you became the best of yourself, what you are now when you stop with the gluten. So I see something that I didn’t know, and I wanted to ask, for instance, even for me, if I stop with the gluten, I become a better writer? (Laughter.)

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Oh, God. Thank you for your question. I’m sorry. (Laughter.)

Q. Go ahead.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: What was the question again? If you don’t eat gluten, would you be a better writer?

 

Q. I hope. It’s my last chance.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I hope for you.

I think you’re a good writer. You have a great history in your career.

 

Q. When the floods hit your homeland, you were active in trying to bring awareness. Now that it’s been just a little while, could you reflect on a few things? Do you think the flood could bring the different peoples of the Balkans together? Is there a particular story or two you could share with us? And also, did that have any effect on the markings for the minefields in that part of the world?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it’s devastating times for three countries that have been suffering these terrible floods. It’s a natural disaster, and there is not much you can do except pray that it can be over quickly.

Considering your question about people of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, and actually the Slavic countries coming together, I think they already did. They showed the solidarity and support to each other like it hasn’t been for 20 years, you know, since the last conflict and the war that we had that didn’t bring any good to any of the people.

Maybe Yugoslavia cannot be the same or cannot be as an official country again like it was three decades ago, but at least we can use the situation and show the support in the future and respect to each other. Because, you know, we are a country    we all in the region, we are one country 30 years ago and we all worked together, and at least we can try to help each other and become, you know, prosperous countries and become a better people.

Because in this unwinning and undesirable circumstances for all of the countries, this is something that is very positive that we take out from this catastrophe, and that is people being together.

 

Q. So when a catastrophe hits, people look at the basics and go beyond?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, sure. I haven’t seen any kind of    and I have been following constantly the last ten days the news media and so forth, and everything that has been going on, because physically I’m not there, so I try to be present, you know, in some way and contribute as much as I can and support this flood relief.

I haven’t seen any negative connotations, any negative stories about what was going on in terms of people’s relationship between the countries, because we all know that only 20, 25 years ago there was a huge war that the wounds of these wars are still fresh for the peoples of these countries.

But for 10 days, everything was forgotten, and it still was very calm, very positive. And actually, people are reacting in a very nice way towards each other and helping each other.

One of the first countries that helped us, you know, in these terrible times when Serbia got hit by floods was Croatia, and their volunteers that came and people in the special circumstances they helped others, and they saved kids, you know. I have seen one news that one kid was very close to die and, you know, was very close to be drowned, and one Croatian volunteer that came and helped and saved her.

These are the kind of stories that we need to listen, need to be out there more often, because the end of the day we are probably going to be still same independent countries as we were two weeks ago, but I think there is going to be a significant change in terms of relationship between the countries, and this is very positive thing.

Leave a comment