롤랑가로 인터뷰 모음 (조코비치)
Q. Gremelmayr is better than his ranking. A very undervalued player. But did you perhaps make it a little bit easier for him today until you finally got control of the fourth set?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I wasn't underestimating my opponent, even though it looked like that in the first set, the way I was playing. So I agree with the fact that his game is better than his ranking at this moment, and he's recently been playing some good tennis.
He played a couple of semifinals in good tournaments, and he played some three sets with Roger Federer. So I knew that he's a tough player to play against on this surface.
But, you know, this was one of the days when you just can't put your game in the direction that you want it to be. And always those first rounds on the bigger events are the tricky ones, a lot of expectations, pressure.
It wasn't easy, you know, but it's good to go through.
Q. How did you prepare this week? I read you had to do an appearance at the Eurovision contest. Did that maybe take something off of your concentration, or did you have enough time to practice?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, I think I had enough time. I feel good, even though I had a tough match, two‑and‑a‑half hours. Physically I feel well. I've been working hard in last six, seven weeks on my physical strength just to prepare well for the Roland Garros. Because this is the most important event for I think every player on this surface. But, you know, it's understandable sometimes to have pretty bad performances.
I'm not happy with the way I played, but, you know, you always have to look positive and try to think in the right direction and hope for the best.
Q. You did well last year, obviously, at the Grand Slams and things. A year ago you had been hoping to be maybe No. 1 or one of the best. What does it feel like now that most people consider you and Roger and Rafa pretty well even? How do you feel about that? Did it change your life very much?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah. It's good to hear that the people are talking about more than two ‑‑ only two players. I mean, last couple months I've been playing some great tennis, achieving fantastic results in the most important events and the major events, Masters Series and Grand Slams, which is the aim for me.
I'll just try to be consistent, you know. I know that there is a lot of, of course, media attention and attention from a lot of tennis lovers. They're hoping for, you know, some changes in the rankings, of course.
There was some opportunities in Hamburg already, but I don't want to pay attention too much on that, you know. I'm going to lose the focus if I do that.
Q. How does it actually feel now? Is it different to be one of the best three or maybe even the best player...
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Sure. People appreciate more. Pay you more respect. As a Grand Slam champion, you gain a lot of positive things and confidence on the top, so you approach things much easier.
Q. When he broke back at 5‑4 in the third, you lost six points in a row. Were you nervous at the time?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, sure. I wasn't on my top level, as I said before. And when you're not playing the way you imagine to play, then there's a lot of things going on in the head, of course.
He came from 5‑1 to 5‑4, and then suddenly I started serving bad and he started going for the shots. He started playing well. All the credit to him. He was being really aggressive.
He surprised me a little bit on the start of the match. He used his opportunities, so I managed to come back through. So it's an encouraging fact for continuation of the tournament.
Q. Do you have memories of Guga when he was winning French Opens?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, sure. Especially the one when he drew the heart on the court. It was really emotional for him, of course in the first place, and for everybody watching. He's a very positive, very positive guy, great personality, and just everybody loves him. I don't know even one guy who says something bad about him.
So the sport is going to miss him, of course, and I wish him all the best. Hopefully he can get far in the tournament.
Q. A moment ago you said you didn't feel like you played very well. When you feel like you're not playing well, what does that mean? Does that mean not striking the ball well? Does it mean not winning certain points? What does that mean to you?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: A lot of things combined, you know. But the most important thing is that you win when you play bad, so there's not many players that have that.
Q. Would you rather play well and win 4 and 4, or play poorly and win 2 and 2?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Next question, please.
Q. Do you feel extra pressure because you are first in the race and you won the first Slam?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, pressure is always there. But as a third player of the world and Grand Slam champion and first player in the race this year, of course there is a lot of expectations.
It's normal. But now it's a matter of my mental ability to cope with that pressure in the best possible way. So far I've been doing great. Pressure is a challenge, so you just have to accept it.
Q. This the first day. First day we see the conditions and things. Can you describe the conditions just in terms of the balls and the court and stuff, and also, in comparison to how it would be for anybody, not just you playing against Nadal? He's viewed as the toughest guy. What are the conditions like for playing against him?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It's quite different than the last couple of tournaments I played on clay. We played with ATP, had(아마도 Head) balls, and they're much different than the ones we play here, Dunlop, at Roland Garros.
It's tough to control, honestly saying, here. The balls are bouncing, they're smaller, and that makes them much, much faster. And then the conditions are different at Roland Garros than in Hamburg and Rome, because here it's pretty fast comparing to Hamburg where it's pretty slow.
So you just ‑‑ you just need time. I think I still didn't, you know, didn't get used to it 100% the way I should. But it's good to win the first round and to play a bit tougher match longer with longer rallies so you can get used to the conditions.
Q. Gremelmayr's speed can make you a little impatient sometimes on the court. But on one point when you were not impatient, I think it was the second set long, kept retrieving everything you hit. Finally you hit the overhead and flopped across the net. What were your emotions there as you lay across the net at the end of that point?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I was happy to win the long point, you know. I think you're always are ‑‑ you always are happy to win such a great point, and it's nice. You know, the crowd saluted in a great way.
But, again, there was a lot of those rallies. In the most important moments I managed to stay calm and just play the way I imagined to play, so it's good.
※ Day 4 : Wednesday, May 28, 2008 N.Djokovic d. M.Lopez Jaen 61 61 63 (VIDEO)
Q. (From French.) It is reassuring for you to do such a complete match?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It's always good to have easy matches on the tournaments like this. Of course, Roland Garros is a Grand Slam, and it takes two weeks. It's a really long tournament, and if you have a chance to play an easy match, a short match to save the energy for the continuation of the tournament, that's great.
So that's what I used today. I didn't know much about my opponent, but, you know, the most important thing for me was to just stay focused all the time, not to underestimate him. That's what I did.
Maybe a question I can ask myself a question.
Q. (From English) You had a very difficult first‑round match. Obviously today was much easier for you. You looked extremely businesslike today. I mean, you were obviously very focused on not making errors and playing your best game, I suppose.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Sure, I like ‑‑ I'm perfectionist in the life, so I like everything to go the best possible way. Sometimes it cannot be that way in the first round. I didn't play my best tennis and I was struggling, but it was good in some way to have the longer match, so you can, you know, get used to the conditions, whatever, balls, and just try to find yourself.
Today I had something totally opposite. I had an opponent who made a lot of unforced errors. He didn't give me a lot of rhythm. I just played as much as I needed to play, so let's see how it goes in the third round.
Q. There's eight days now before the semifinals, and you only have three matches to play. What are you going to do?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I'm not thinking about semifinals at all in this moment. I'm thinking about only winning the tournament. No, I'm joking. (laughter.)
I'll have to go slowly, you know. Next opponent, next match. Every next match is getting tougher, tougher, and tougher. Physically I'm ready for upcoming challenges, and I think that's one of the most important things and key facts for the matches.
Q. Does it seem funny that sometimes in a Masters Series you play six days in a row, and now if you make the semifinals you're only going to play three times in eight days?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes. But, well, in Master Series events you play best‑of‑three sets, and here you play best‑of‑five. It's quite different, you know. In Grand Slams, everybody has motivation more to do well.
So you have to be careful, especially in my position where I have the role of the favorite in most of the matches I get in. I just have to accept it.
Q. First, if you know the Uruguayan tennis, Paolo Cueras. And if you know him, what is your opinion about his tennis?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, we can ‑‑ okay. I don't know much about him. I've seen him play just maybe one, two times. Well, obviously he's a clay court specialist. I heard he's a good player, but I haven't seen much about him.
Q. What's your reason for running for the players council?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, now, this is something that it's a very long story. We don't have time now to talk about that and decisions. I want to be focused on the tournament.
But, yes, the truth is that I am interested of getting into the players council in the future. The elections are soon or whatever. But I'm not thinking about that too much, you know, before the tournament ends.
Q. Are there things you'd like to change?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, sure. I mean, there are a lot of things you want to change and a lot of things on my mind, but if I start talking now we'll finish tomorrow. So there's a lot of things.
But the most important thing is that finally I'm feeling that all the players are getting together, getting united, and really having the interest of changing some things for, you know, for our better tomorrow.
Q. Did you sit up and watch the Eurovision the other night?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, of course. This was a great event for our country. I would like to congratulate the organizers. They did a fantastic job, and it was a great thing for our country. You know, after many problems in last 20 years, finally we're having the opportunity to show the world that we know how to organize such a great event. It was only positive.
Q. What song should have won?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: (laughter.) There was a lot of good songs. Honestly, I wasn't supporting Russia, but...
Q. Nadal just said that it didn't make any sense for him to step into the court yesterday to play the two games, because the organization already knew that it was going to rain. Do you think he's getting the kind of respect he deserves as a champion when he's scheduled to play Monday on third turn?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I don't know if this is a question for me, but you have to consider a couple of sides. You know, this is very important event for Paris and for France. As organizers, it's a great event. As a tournament, they have to at least, you know, try to give people who pay tickets some tennis, you know.
Yesterday was terrible. It was all day raining and stopping and people just hanging around all day. They didn't see any of the tennis.
On the other hand, of course, in the case of the players, it may be a little bit rough to put them to play, to put them waiting, you know, all day, and then just let them play two games.
So this, I think it's a bit rough. But anyhow, you know, I don't think they did it on purpose.
Q. I know you get along well with Maria. Did you watch any of that excitement out there today when she was almost losing?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Of course. We watched it from the men's locker room. Whenever some of the nice looking girls are playing we're sitting and watching. (laughter.)
Yeah, she was struggling, but, you know, it's challenging for her. She's always a favorite, so it's not easy.
Q. And did you get an idea of the conditions at all by seeing the wind out there that she was playing in?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I experienced it myself in the match today, and especially in the start. It was a lot of wind and a lot of difficulties, and it was not easy to get used to that and accept it.
But, you know, you're a professional player, so you have to play under a lot of circumstances different.
※ Day 8 : Sunday, June 1, 2008 N.Djokovic d. P.H.Mathieu 64 63 64 (VIDEO)
Q. You're still to find your very best level, but do you feel like you're playing better with each match?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, that's what I was saying the last press conference, that I'm trying to get involved more and step it up.
So today I was ‑‑ I was happy with the way I played. I think it was much better than the last three matches.
Q. You had two service games where you got done Love‑40. Are you angry at yourself for getting down Love‑40 or pleased with yourself for coming back and winning those games or maybe a little bit of both?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I'm pleased that I managed to come back from Love‑40, that's for sure.
It's not easy in the certain moments, especially in the moments when you are serving for the set. And, you know, he was really close. He played some good shots.
But one of the best elements in my game today and throughout all the tournament was serve. So if I can rely on serve, then I'm relieved, you know, through the game. So then I can focus myself more on the baseline strokes.
I think I was focused a lot today. I didn't want it to just use the ‑‑ I used the momentum and just tried to be smart, you know, change the pace a lot. I knew that he's the player which likes to play the same pace, more or less.
But I managed to get to the stage when he made a lot of unforced errors. But, you know, it's good to get through in straight sets.
Q. With all the respect you have to do with the opponents, but a lot of people is thinking about already the semifinals between Djokovic and Nadal. For all the experience you have now on clay and playing against Nadal, how do you think is possible to beat Nadal, Nadal in five sets at Roland Garros?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: With all due respect, I know you ask me a long question, but I don't want to answer because I still need to win a match to get to Nadal.
Q. So compared to last year, obviously you are more favorite. Had your approach changed from last year, especially coming to second week?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, for sure coming to the stage in my career when I feel really confident about a lot of matches I played, the big ones.
It's important to feel good physically and mentally before coming to the two‑week long Grand Slam.
There's a lot of tough matches, best‑of‑five, but this year is quite different. I'm coming as a Grand Slam champion. Get a lot of respect and appreciation from the players. It's a different approach, you know. I have more confidence and I believe much more in my myself.
But in the other side as well, you have more pressure, more responsibility, but I'm dealing with it pretty good so far.
Q. I believe your next opponent Gulbis also trained at Niki Pilic's academy. I'm wondering if you knew him from back then or how much you know of him, how much contact you've had with him?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: On and off the court. We know each other on and off the court. (laughter.) Crazy experiences off the court as well. For three years we've been practicing in the Pilic Academy. He's a great guy. I know him.
He was very talented back then. I was speaking with Pilic, and he told me all the best things about him. Already then he was very powerful.
So he was about to grow up, and as you can see, he's very tall. He's using his height for the serve, which is one of his biggest weapons. He makes a life really difficult for his opponents when he's serving well. He has a big forehand, very talented guy, but still getting through, you know. He made some good results here and there, but he's not consistent.
So maybe there's my chance, you know, with the experience and the patience that I have.
Q. Would you like to tell us about some of those crazy experiences?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No (laughter.)
Q. You were talking about your serve today, but return of serve also very important. You got off the block well, hit some winners, moved him around. Can you just talk about your mentality as to when you decide to go for it and then when you decide to play a little bit safer?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I was saying after the match two days ago that in the first three matches I wasn't able to find my game and just get the rhythm, and I didn't step up in the returns or the baseline. My game was a bit defensive, and more than usually.
So that's what I was trying today, to step in more in the returns and just be more aggressive, because that's me, you know. That's how I return well. That's how I play well. That's my game, you know. If I start to change, many times I get out of my comfort zone, and that's not good. Then things go downhill.
So today, on the start of the match, I was ‑‑ I wasn't really stepping in my return. I was more blocking and just trying to get longer rallies and take it from there. But then in the continuation of the match, second and third set, I was really happy with the way I returned.
Q. Getting back to the crazy experiences, one would think you seem like more the crazy guy than him. He seems very calm and cool. Is that a proper assumption? He was very calm when he was in here.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Ernests?
Q. Yes. You seem sometimes crazier than he is.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Don't be so sure about that. (laughter.) I think I know him better than you.
Q. Does it seem like it's gone very quickly? All of a sudden you're in the quarterfinals?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think it did, really. The time has passed really quickly. But, you know, since you start to play long matches and you get involved, you know. You're very focused during the Grand Slam, any Grand Slam. You try to just, you know, think about tennis, and even on your off days to practice.
There is a lot at stake, you know, involved. There is a lot of responsibility and expectations, of course. It's important for every player, especially for me in this moment, you know. I just want to keep on going and try to be consistent with my results.
As the third player of the world, of course everybody see me already in the last couple of days of the tournament. But again, you know, it has passed really, really quickly.
Q. When you were together with Gulbis, did you play a lot of matches together, or were you just sort of hitting?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: He was destroying me in practices. I couldn't win a match. On practice? No chance.
Q. How recently is that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Sorry?
Q. How recently was that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Two or three years ago. So all the pressure on him, okay? (laughter.)
He's a favorite. Whatever. I play ‑‑ no responsibility, nothing to lose.
Q. Simple question for broadcasters. How are you pronouncing your name? It was Djokovic last year and something else this year.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Oh, my God. What do I have to so you can learn my surname, how to pronounce?
Q. Just pronounce it once.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Djokovic.
Q. Somebody said you wanted it Djokovic.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Maybe in American, Djokovic.
Q. You've spoken often this season about your increased self‑confidence and belief, especially since the Australian Open. You have two very well‑loved champions in Roger and Rafa that you're competing with, obviously, on the court. Do you ever feel like you're competing with them also off the court in terms of the public's affection?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, no, no. Not too much. This is individual sport, and everybody has their own lives and their own style. We're all different, you know.
I'm not trying at all to compare myself with them or try to do some same things or familiar things that they do. I have my own career, my own style, my own personality, and then my own way of management on and off the court, so this is different.
Q. The players that reach the semifinals in your half of the draw will have two days off before the final, whereas the players in the top half of the draw will get one day off. Is this significant?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, this is, I think, question for organizers. But, okay, if I am in that position, then I probably have more luck, you know, so I can have an extra day of recovery.
But I don't think it's, you know, representing a lot of advantage, you know, giving a lot of advantage in the last stages of the tournament, even though the matches are getting tougher and longer and the opponents are ‑‑ have more quality. But I don't see much advantage than my opponents.
Q. We Italians, we have 11 players in the draw, and we all lost. This increase our regret for what you said in the Italian TV, that many years ago you had asked to be helped by the Italian federation and get an Italian passport. Can you finally tell us the details of this? Because we never really found out.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Mamma mia. (laughter.)
Q. So since we are destroyed, can you give us some help?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Okay, just to make this story short, because it was many years ago. I think I was about 13, 14 years old. Of course, I looked for the best possible conditions in my career, and Italy was one of the choices.
But we ‑‑ back then we were in a really good relations with ex‑coach of Fabio Fognini. His name is Leo. I don't know his surname.
Q. Caperchi.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah. He was a very nice guy. He was helpful. He wanted to try and go for it, but it didn't end up good, so actually didn't end up good for me.
Q. And not for us. (laughter.) If Gulbis was beating you so badly in practice, how do you explain that you've won a major and he's still trying to get to the semifinals?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think that's ‑‑ that's a great example that practice and the official match are two different things.
※ Day 10 : Tuesday, June 3, 2008 N.Djokovic d. E.Gubis 75 76 75 (VIDEO)
Q. Do you think we've seen someone out there today who you had to play really well to beat who could be in and amongst the very best players in the world in the not too distant future?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, that's one of the possibilities. He has all the elements in the game to do so. He has great potential, and he's a very nice guy. I know him for a long time on and off the court. We have been practicing together in the same place for three years.
We knew each other's game, but we never met officially on the tournaments, so it was a bit tricky for both of us. Obviously he didn't have anything to lose, you know, first quarterfinals of the Grand Slam.
I knew that he was going to be aggressive and just go for the shots, so I was trying to be patient, you know, and just try to calm his game down a little bit.
There was a lot of interruptions with the rain and with the bad weather, but I think it went more in my advantage because when there is rain, the courts are getting slower, which makes the serve not so effective as in other conditions.
But certainly he has a big potential to be one of the best players in the world in upcoming couple of months or years. But, you know, it all depends from his mental ability, you know, if he's stable or not.
You know, he had some crucial moments when he made some unforced errors and double faults, so he still needs to ‑‑ he needs to get some time and get more experience.
Q. Would you say that today on the big points it was your willingness to play safe percentage tennis that saw you through?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, you know, as I said, I knew he was going to go for the shots, so I didn't want to make the same rhythm. I didn't want to try to overpower his game. He's very strong. He's very tall. He has a great serve. He surprise me with the percentage of the first serve.
He was making a lot of troubles to me to return his serves, so, you know, if he can rely on some element in the game, which was serving in this position, then it's much easier to continue playing.
But I tried to play a bit more patient and more safe in certain moments, yeah, that's for sure. But this is not going to be a case in the next match.
Q. When you kind of walked back to the locker room and see that Nadal has won 6‑1, 6‑1, 6‑1 against someone who has won more clay court matches than you this year, then what's your immediate sensation?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I told my coach, I think it was 6‑1, 6‑1, 5‑1, I told him, Look, go, go fast. See one game, you know. Try to catch at least a game and see how it goes. Maybe he play some bad shots (laughter.)
It's impressive, of course. He's been playing better and better, you know. He improve I think the serve a lot this year, on clay especially, and he's going for some shots much more.
He combines that with his great physical strength and then patience, and it's impressive on this surface.
But I don't want to go out there in semis and just try my best. I don't want to do that. I want to win, and I think I have good quality and good chance.
I mean, I know, of course, he's a favorite, and all the credit to that. But only with a positive attitude and approach in the match I can get the positive outcome.
Q. You will play more aggressive than Hamburg, like the beginning of the match when you are winning? Or what do you think about?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think Hamburg was really good match for me. I was really unfortunate. I mean, I don't think it can happen second time that I am so unfortunate on a lot of break points and in important moments I hit so many lets and even the string breaks, things like that. I didn't have luck.
But if I play that way, you know, and if I'm able to keep on going that way, keep that aggressivity on the high level and be consistent in the strokes and just try to stick with him, you know, be all the time with him mentally as well, then I have a good chance.
Q. Is this the ultimate challenge in tennis, playing against Nadal on clay?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, yeah. In this position, yeah. In this period of the year when he's so dominant in last couple of years on this surface, he's never lost a match on the center court in the French Open, you know, he's ‑‑ all to his favor.
But it's a big challenge for me, I think, as the third player of the world and Grand Slam winner this year.
He has, you know, things have quite changed since the last year playing on clay. I think I have more quality in my game and more variety, so hopefully I can use it against him.
Q. Do you think it's a bigger challenge playing Rafa here or playing Roger at Wimbledon?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't know. I never played Roger in Wimbledon, so I can't say.
Q. The question is like completing the other question. The challenge of trying to beat Nadal for the first time in Paris, is it for you as strong as or wanting to win the French Open almost, like somebody's going to stop Nadal, being the one who's going to stop him? Is it for you as important as winning the Grand Slam?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, I don't want to get into the book ‑‑ in the book of the history by beating Nadal. You know, it's not my priority goal. My priority goal is to keep on winning, keep on playing well, and then just trying to get as far as I can in the tournament. Winning the Grand Slam title is, of course, much more important.
Q. Are you going to have a different technique, or are you going to play as usual against Nadal?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I just said how I'm going to play.
Q. Is it fair to say that probably you are physically in the best possible shape to play this match? I think in the past you haven't been able to play as well as you would have liked because you've had an injury or two. Is it fair to say that you are in the best shape you could possibly be?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think, yes. I think I'm on the top of my shape, at least confidence, you know. I've been winning a lot this year, and I approached the big matches in the big events much different than the past years.
So this can be one of the keys in the upcoming match, and of course physical strength, which is very important. The fact that I'm going to have two days now to rest and recover is encouraging for me.
Q. There's another set of semifinals, men's and women's, and three Serbian players again. The three of you have not only have shown a lot of talent, but you seem very consistent. You don't trip up early. I mean, is there one story there, or is it three different stories?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Plus doubles. You didn't mention doubles. We have like five or six guys in doubles. Four, whatever. Seven. I don't know, seven all together?
So, yeah, it's getting better and better. I mean, I think the country has only positive thoughts about tennis now. It's No. 1 sport. I'm feeling happy when I see the guys of my country, countryfellows, you know, girls and men, doing so well.
Of course, it's much nicer than to see somebody else. For such a small country, it's a big success. We represent our country. Yeah, we support each other. We have very fair understanding for each other, and very fair relations, so it's nice.
Q. How hard he hits and the kind of ball he hits, where does that rate with all the other players in the world? Is it right up there?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Who?
Q. Ernests Gulbis, how hard he hits.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, he hits the ball really hard. He has a great talent. He's been hitting the ball really fast throughout all the time, all these years that I know him. He developed, he got stronger.
Maybe he needs to improve a little bit on his movement more and just to gain the experience. As I said, he has all the things he need to be a top 10 player.
Q. Were you at all surprised by how hard he was hitting right at the beginning?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I knew he's going to be very aggressive, so I wasn't really.
Q. You're such an emotional player, and I'm wondering if you're conscious during the match of wanting the crowd to be with you, if there's anything that you try to do? If you're feeling like you're losing them, do you try to get them back? Did your experience in Australia against Tsonga teach you anything about that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes, well, I'm emotional, of course, and going through a lot of frustrations and of course positive and negative energy throughout the match.
It's normal to have some kind of ‑‑ for me, of course, it's normal ‑‑ everybody's different ‑‑ to have some kind of expressions after a bad point or good point. That's the way I am. I have a big temperament on the court, so I just like it that way.
Every person is different, and the crowd is important on every tournament, every match. It's really important if you can get the crowd behind you to support you. You know, you get motivation. You know, you get motivated, you get a lot of positive energy, and you kind of play easier, you know.
If you have a crowd against you, it's a totally different situation. Then you're fighting against the crowd and your opponent. This can put you in a really tricky position. That's why sometimes maybe during the match, you know, if I see the crowd is against me I react crazy, but, you know, it's all part of the sport.
Q. Did Australia teach you anything about that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Not, not specially.
Q. I was told that just before the match you got a little problem, physical problem. You were late, something like that. It was wrong information?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Absolutely.
Q. And second question: Comment about the warning?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: About the warning?
Q. Yeah.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No comment. I accept it. You know, as long as they are giving me the prewarnings, no problem about that. My fault. I admit.
※ Day 13 : Friday, June 6, 2008 N.Djokovic l. R.Nadal 46 26 67(3) (VIDEO)
Q. You had him constantly under pressure on his serve in his last six service games. What adjustment did you make at that point in the second set to finally get on top of his serve?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It was the third set that I managed to do something about his game and about today's match. The first two sets, especially the second set, was pretty bad for me. I wasn't finding any rhythm and making a lot of unforced errors.
He was using wisely. You know, he feels great on this court. He never lost there. I just, you know, decided to go for the shots and try everything or nothing, you know. I just couldn't do anything else.
I wasn't moving the way I moved in our last match in Hamburg, you know. I was making more mistakes than I should have. You know, he showed again that in the most important moments he's very strong mentally, and why he is the defending champion of the French Open.
Q. How would you describe the mental toll that playing him takes with so many long physical rallies?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, well, especially here, you know. Not many people know that center court is quite slower than the other courts, especially Suzanne Lenglen and Court 1. They are pretty fast.
Center court suits to his game, and you basically ‑‑ sometimes it's really frustrating when you can't make a winner. My game is based on aggressivity. I try to go for the shots, and I either make mistakes or I make winners and try to put pressure on my opponent.
With him, it's really difficult on this court. Physically‑wise, I had enough time to rest and to prepare, but on the court I didn't feel ‑‑ I didn't feel well.
Probably there is pressure combined, you know, mentally and mental ‑‑ mental ability with the pressure. It's combined with the physical preparation and strength, so there was a lot of stress on the court. Obviously I didn't feel well.
Q. Set point goes by. Was it a sinking feeling when you saw that ball go by?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Unfortunately, yeah. I don't know how many people noticed today, but there was a lot of wind and tough conditions to play.
From the one side, whoever played from that side was really dominant, because he played with the wind. From the other side, I had that set point, and, you know, I returned that serve.
Unfortunately I ‑‑ he got me on wrong foot. But, you know, he played well. All credit to him.
Q. You're two sets to Love down; you're two breaks down. Everybody thinks the match is over. At that point you staged a remarkable comeback. Where did you find it within yourself to come back like that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, the point from start of the second set till 3‑Love third set was so quick that I didn't, you know, I didn't even notice it. It's so much errors and he played really well. He used it.
So, you know, in the split of the second I'm two sets down and double break down, but I was still trying, you know. I didn't want to give up.
It's semifinals of the Grand Slam. Of course, there's a lot at stake on that match and everybody's watching it. I just ‑‑ I just don't like to give up, so I wasn't trying to give up.
And as you could see, I did everything I could. In this moment I wasn't performing the tennis that I usually can perform, and I think I can do better. But, you know, the better player won today.
Q. Do you think it's possible to beat him on this court here, best of five?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Everything is possible, you know. The way he plays now, it's really tough. Of course, he's a favorite in every match he plays against whoever he plays on this court. He never lost here.
Of course sometimes the people wonder, is it possible or not? But everything is possible. Nobody's unbeatable.
Q. I was going to ask an extension of that. If Roger does win this, do you think it's possible he's ready to beat Rafa on this surface?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, he wants it a lot, so he has a lot of motivation for French Open title. That's the only title he didn't win, so I think everything is possible.
Q. Do you have any advice for him, how to play or...
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I need to give advice to Roger? (laughter.)
I think no. He knows the best.
Q. Coming back to the match, 54% first serve. It's not enough, obviously.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, this is one of the things that I wasn't really happy about today in my game. My serve was really bad, low percentage. Even when I got the first serves in they were pretty slow and no angles, so it wasn't really effective.
If you play against ‑‑ if you are intending to win against Rafa on this court, on his court, you have to serve well. This is what I didn't do today.
Q. As you were making your resurgence, do you feel you were reading his spins a lot better? Was that helpful?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, yeah. You know, I just need to play my game whenever I play him, you know. I need to be aggressive. He's best defensive player in the world, and he plays every point like it's a match point.
He produces a lot of spin, which makes my life a lot tougher on this surface. You know, especially when he opens up the court on the backhand side. He was playing smart, so, I was, you know, making unforced errors like I shouldn't.
Q. On to grass now?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah. Grass court season is always something that I look forward to. We all know that the grass is much slower than it used to be, so baseline players have much ‑‑ a lot of success in the past years.
I played semifinals at Wimbledon last year. I have no reason not to expect any big results, so I look forward to it.
Q. As you look back on this match, or will look back on this match and the tactics, you have enough groundstroke power to play two ways with him: You can play risky and go for your shots, or try to hit with him and wait a little bit longer. Did you wait too long in this match to play a little bit riskier tennis, start going for your shots?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Now if I think about it, of course, if I could change some things, I would change some things. But in that certain moment it is not easy, because there is a lot of other things, you know, mental stress and pressure that you need to cope with.
So if you're planning to play something and then you just ‑‑ it's not easy to get the right outcome, you know, at that point, because, you know, there's a lot of things involved. Yeah, you know, with him you need to be aggressive.
But in the other hand, you need to ‑‑ you know, you need to stay calm and just stay with him all the time mentally and in the game, as well. Try to be patient, but go for the shots.
Maybe I was supposed to go more to the net, which I didn't.
Q. You played a lot of Grand Slams, and you're also a Grand Slam champion. Can you imagine what it's like to come to a Grand Slam and have never lost? What kind of mental pressure does that take to be able to handle that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: That's a question for him. I don't know. I still ‑‑ I still don't know how he feels.
Q. You look like a little bit depressed. How tough is this loss?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, how you want me to feel after a loss? You want me to laugh all the time?
I expected a lot from this match, of course. You know, I feel sorry that I lost. I'm not depressed, far away from that, you know.
I'm only 21 years old and I played so much, you know, semifinals of the Grand Slam tournaments, and won couple majors and a Grand Slam itself, so I have no reason to be depressed. I just look forward to the future.
