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:: 4월 14일 2라운드, N. DJOKOVIC/O. Hernandez 6-1, 6-2 (Video)
Q. You must be reasonably pleased with that. A good start.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, really good start. I didn't quite expect to perform that good, considering the fact that I didn't have any matches, singles matches, on this surface, and I had very little time to make this transition.
But I was really playing aggressive and patient at the same time. This combination is really important for this surface. So hopefully I can continue.
Q. How long does it normally take you to adjust?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it all depends. It all depends from which surface are you coming. I think from hard court to clay is easier than vice versa because it's a slower surface, and then the ball's coming a little bit slower than on the hard courts. So it's easier to adjust.
But it's probably the physical preparation which is priority for each player.
Q. Physically how are you feeling?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I felt quite good. I felt quite good. I was working. I was working quite hard, you know, last four, five days. I will continue on even throughout this tournament to pay attention on the physical strength 'cause I am aware that I have a lot of important events coming up on this surface.
Q. Will you be doing anything different in that sense?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I might focus myself a little bit more on endurance and running so I can have more air on the court. I can say that I can be more confident that I can play long rallies.
Q. I'd like to talk about it's a long time since we didn't see the joking side of Djokovic. We have the impression we lost this part of you since two years. What do you think about this advertising from this morning with Head? Do you think you're going to go farther and farther?
But I don't think so, no. I'm still really enjoying whatever I do. It's just that now you play more matches, you have more commitments. It's really difficult to have an outside life, you know, next to the tennis matches.
But this morning it was something really interesting, something really new. Head brand is known that it's representing young players, which is really good. And the video, I don't know if you had a chance to see it, it was really fun. I made it in Miami. It was a day-long shooting, but it was worth it.
You know, it's something new with all these animations and all these monsters attacking tennis players. You know, it's good. I think it's good for the sport because tennis needs it.
Q. Could you imagine Roger Federer making the same advertising?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, he's playing in our position, so I don't think so.
Q. When you say give yourself a new air or aura on clay, what do you mean by that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, I mean just more -- look, it's really important in today's tennis because we have so many commitment tournaments and we have to play so much. In order to be one of the top players, you have to keep up because you have Murray, Nadal, Federer, all these guys who are doing so well on different kind of surfaces. So in order to keep up with them, you have to do the same.
And to do that, you know, to do the same thing, to be successful, you have to be physically fit. So, you know, I got a lot of difficulties with the health the last couple of years. The tempo is really growing and growing. So I have to pay attention to that.
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:: 4월 17일 8강, N. DJOKOVIC/F. Verdasco 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 (Video)
Q. Totally different conditions between last night and today. Was it difficult for you to adjust your game?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, thank you, first of all, for not making any press conference last night. It was quite late (smiling).
But, you know, these are the conditions you have to adjust on. The courts were really wet. Even today you could feel it. The balls were getting bald and really fast. It was you tough to control. But overall I played really well.
Q. You talked about your fitness; wanting to improve your endurance.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes.
Q. Is it kind of helpful in some way to have to back up very quickly like that and test yourself?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It is. I think every single tournament, every single match is a test. I've said before that the priority on this surface would probably be the physical, you know, preparation and physical strength, if you are able to commit yourself to the long rallies, long matches.
I think today was a really good test, a really good match for me, that I can see if I'm able to do that. That's what I did. I hang in there, just waited for my chances.
Q. Were you impressed by yourself today?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I've been playing quite good in the first two matches, as well. Feeling well in doubles, as well.
I got four matches prior to today's quarterfinal. Got a lot of practice and worked a lot. I just knew that I am feeling the ball quite well. I just need to repeat that again today.
Q. Did you think you would be able to do so well, so early in the clay season?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it wasn't really a lot of time to get used to that. But it was not just me; it was a couple of players who have played really well in the States and didn't have a lot of time to get used to this surface.
But this is tennis. This is the schedule. You just have to go with it.
Q. We have been talking a lot about the rankings, how you are close to Federer, Murray is close to you. How much do you think about that? Not at all? Does it worry you?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No. Look, I try not to think about it, you know. But, of course, it's part of your life. It's part of your job. You always get that. Of course, you think about it.
It's really important to keep the balance and really not think about it too much because then you keep your focus away from something you need to do on the court. You need to win every single match you play. You need to believe in that. And that's it.
If you think about rankings, who's going up, who's losing points, then you lose your priorities.
Q. Weren't you afraid to lose your concentration playing the role of Hugh Hefner last night?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Two nights ago (smiling). Unfortunately, public I think will not see that. It was quite interesting.
Actually, I think that this ATP player show is the best thing that they have entertainment-wise in the year. They should have it more.
Q. 'More', you mean in different tournaments?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah. I think it's a good idea for tournaments to have that, because there's a lot of players that want to show themselves in a different light, if you know what I mean.
Q. What did you enjoy more to perform?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I started this as a stripper and I then I finished as Hugh Hefner. So explains it all.
Q. No video on YouTube in the next day?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Last year, players show got on YouTube. Maybe is going to be the same.
Q. Did you impersonate players?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes.
Q. Which ones?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I can't say (smiling).
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:: 4월 18일 4강, N. DJOKOVIC/S. Wawrinka 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 (Video)
Q. The singles semifinal, it was a tough match. You really had to fight, didn't you?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes, I knew it was going to be a struggle for both of us. He likes playing on clay. He's physically very strong player. He was on the roll, winning against Federer and many other good players.
So, you know, I had this slow start, meaning I wanted to wait for his unforced errors more than I wanted to step up to the court and take, you know, balls early. I didn't do that. He used his chances wisely.
Then second set, it's a totally different story. I really started playing well, aggressively, serving high percentage. It all paid off in the end.
Q. In terms of your week so far, have you surprised yourself at how well you have made the adaptation?
I'm very happy with my, you know, finals tomorrow. Hopefully I can continue with a good results on this surface.
Q. Tomorrow is it 'Mission Impossible'?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No. If I think 'Mission Impossible,' then I shouldn't go to the court, like with the white flag. But I understand.
Q. He's on a winning streak.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Look, you can't win against him if you don't believe that you can win.
Q. So you believe?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I will try to win because this is finals and I think I have chances. This is the only behavior that is acceptable for winning against Nadal on this surface.
Q. You remember Hamburg. You were very close.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah.
Q. So the game plan could be to do the same but a little bit better?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes. The fact is that he has improved even more from last year. His backhand was maybe a weakness where players were searching for their chance. But now he's stepping in and he's basically not making a lot of mistakes on backhand, making the player run all over the court. He's improved his serve. His physical strength and mental strength we already know. You know, generally he's a very complete player.
But everything is possible in tennis. It's a finals. I'm motivated. It's gonna be a lot of pressure on him because he's obviously a favorite to win it again. So that's it.
Q. Do you have any special strategy against him?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I just said. Look, I'm going to have to play an aggressive game. That's the way it is. That's my style.
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:: 4월 19일 결승, R. NADAL/N. Djokovic 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 (Video)
Q. You made a superb effort to break back in the third set, and after that you scored only three points.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I would look on the brighter side: I think I've played a very good match - actually one of the best I have played against him on this surface.
It's really unfortunate that in the certain moments I didn't play the way I was supposed to play, with a little bit more patience. I went for too much. I went for too much shots. He was just right there.
He used his strength and his experience playing in the big matches and just waited wisely for his chances, then he used them.
Q. How difficult is it? It seems like it's almost impossible to know when to be aggressive or when to stay back. Is that the real challenge?
As I said yesterday night, I really believed that I can, you know, I can really get a close match and might win in our encounter, because I have played a lot of good matches against him and I know the way he's playing. I know that he's been very dominant on this surface. The strength and mental ability of course is his advantage on the clay courts.
But, again, you know, I needed to step it up. That's what I did. And it was a very impressive second set. And then that probably breakpoint in the first game when he got incredible dropshot and he made a winner, the other angle was just incredible. I think that's what kind of lifted him up, and I probably didn't participate that much anymore.
Q. Can we say it was a little bit similar to the match in Hamburg?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, yes, yes, we can say that. But here I felt that I have more chance because the conditions are faster than Hamburg. Hamburg was quite slow. But here the ball was going really fast, and it was all suitable for my game against him.
It was just unfortunate, again, to miss some opportunities in the start of the third set because if I was break up, then things would probably look different.
Q. Does this performance give you hope in terms of Rafa on clay?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes, for sure. I mean, I have played couple of great matches. Even at Roland Garros I have played some close sets. So it certainly gives me a lot of confidence playing against him. Hopefully I can have another chance this season.
Q. What was the problem with the back?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it's probably because of the serve, and I just made some quick move. The muscle got tight, really tight. After, I was really okay after the medical timeout.
Q. If it is so tough to win one set off of Nadal, how difficult is it to win possibly two or three?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: We are coming back again to the story of believing in yourself. I think there is where the key of playing him. You just have to be focused every single point because you have a player on the other side of the net that doesn't really give you any points. I mean, you could see him on 5-1 in the third set, he played like it's 5-All. He really doesn't care about the result. He just wants to give his best every single point. That's why he's very unique and that's why he's the best now.
So you probably will have to be physically really fit in the first place, because long rallies and long points are waiting for you. That's no secret.
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