[인터뷰] 상하이 (R2~SF)
:: 10/14 R2: Novak DJOKOVIC d. Fognini 6-3, 6-1 (Video) ::
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, yes. It's great to win in straight sets and finish out the job in a short period of time.
I've waited for a long time today to play my match, and I don't want to say it was easy, because it wasn't. Still, even though I looked on the court quite comfortable, but I was trying to find my rhythm, especially on the start of the match.
First matches are always the ones which are trickiest, especially if you're playing against a lower‑ranked player who has basically nothing to lose.
I was trying to fight for every shot and didn't give him any chance to come back into the match, which was important.
You know, the conditions are a little bit different here. The ball is bouncing higher than in Beijing, and it's more humid. I had a lot of problems with sweat, you know, and the weather in general, but I'm happy to get through.
Q. You had a great week in Beijing, so you're really building some momentum. I think you made the Masters Final four times this year, so Shanghai could be the one to make the break‑through?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I sincerely hope so. I've played quite consistent on the 1000 events this year. I did have some ups and downs, but generally I've played some good tennis and unfortunately didn't make that extra step in the final stages of the events when I needed to do so, but I was misfortunate as well a little bit in those matches. You know, I lost to Rafa, and, you know, Andy Murray, as well, the ones who were playing some great tennis at the time.
But I had a lot of success on Asian soil the last two or three years, so I just hope I will continue the same way.
Q. What do you think of the new system where the top players get a first‑round bye? Because obviously there are advantages and disadvantages, especially if your opponent has had a good hard match and they're feeling prepared and you come in a bit rusty?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, there's always a different perspective and different angles that you're looking at the system, but I would support a system for us top players it's better, because in these cases when we are reaching the final stages of some other events just the week before the 1000 events, then we have an extra day or two to really rest and practice and get ready for this tournament. When you have a match less, obviously it's an advantage, you know. It's better.
And then, on the other hand, a little disadvantage, as you said, is you didn't play a match and it's dangerous, because the other player had already at least a match under his belt and he's able to get used to the courts quicker than you.
Q. Just wondering how you're feeling physically at the moment. A couple of your fellow guys in the top 10 or so have fallen over this week. Are you physically okay? You're not going to fall over on us, are you?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, it's strange what's happening, but in my case, thanks to the God, you know, I'm feeling healthy and feeling physically well on the court.
As you can see, I'm running all over the place, so I just hope nothing bad will happen. But you can never predict.
Q. I have a totally non‑tennis question for you, but I know you're very good with languages. I heard you speak Italian in Italy. I heard you trying to speak French in Marseilles. I'd like you to tell me where your Chinese is at.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't know, how does it go, how many levels of learning you have to take? But it's maybe second, third level. I've learned some basic stuff and some bad words and bad sentences that I cannot really say right now.
It was mostly last year in Olympic Games in the locker room of Beijing and this year again in locker room of Beijing. I had some great friends ‑‑ I made some great friends there, the guys who were working the locker room, couple of them. I would name them, but I don't know what they are called, but we had a lot of fun. And I learned them a couple of words in my language, and they did in Chinese.
Okay. I know Wo‑ai‑ni. Xie‑Xie. Ni‑hao. Then, okay, everything else is bad.
Q. One bad word is not bad.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Wo‑yao‑ni. The girls know what's going on.
Q. I guess you're not talking to me.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: For sure not. This sentence was not for you. (laughter.)
:: 10/15 R3: Novak DJOKOVIC d. Schuettler 6-4, 6-2 (Video) ::
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I'm trying to keep my body in good condition all the time, you know. I'm not saying they're not; it's just that, you know, I always was taking care of the body in general and health and always putting that as a priority in front of everything, and the bottom line is that, you know, you want to stay healthy after your career.
It's great if you are successful in what you do, but, you know, you don't want to live up to 30 and then just have big problems with the knees and back like most of the professional tennis players do when they finish their career.
So, you know, I've been working on physical strength and fitness a lot in last couple of months, and it's been paying off. It's playing one of the key roles, I guess, in the situations like this. When you are playing week after week, it's important to be physically strong, and that gives you advantage over your opponents.
Q. Watching the game, it looked quite comfortable out there. How was it for you on the court?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it was comfortable. You know, I didn't play the last couple of games of the first set that well, but, you know, the important thing is that I played as much as I needed to to win.
And straight sets win is something that I needed just before the, you know, quarterfinals, and now the opponents are getting much more difficult and you have to put in extra effort now. I'm aware of that.
My opponent is Simon who I played couple of times the last two years, and we had great encounters. One of them was here actually in Shanghai last year in the Masters Cup, played semifinals, you know, 6 4, 7 5 in the third set, so he's considered as one of those tricky players on the tour which you don't want to really play. And it's not fun to play him, because he gets a lot of balls back, and he moves very lightly on the court.
I'm well aware that's going to be a long match. I just hope I can put up good shots in important moments and get another win.
Q. During this tournament, did you have any opportunity to watch other games like on TV?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, yes. Yes, I did mostly when mostly here in the club when I'm waiting for my match. I've watched some others, yeah.
Q. Any games that you liked?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I don't know in particular. (laughter.)
:: 10/16 QF: Novak DJOKOVIC d. Gilles Simon 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 (Video) ::
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, kind of sounds strange, but you're right, you know. Most of the time when I smash the racquet the things go better from then on. I don't know.
Q. And the moral for the story?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, exactly. Exactly. I don't know if it's moral or not what I did, but anyway, it was the positive thing is that I managed to find a good solution after, after so many ups and downs from both sides. And very emotional, very intensive match.
Q. We rarely ever see a guy's match that has six service breaks in a set. What was going on there?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it's crazy. You know, it's crazy, really. The surface is very slow, first of all, and if you're not serving as Ljubicic or Karlovic or these guys, then you will struggle a little bit, especially if you have across your net Simon or Nadal. You know, these guys were returning really well.
I found that I returned as well quite good, so it was kind of advantage for the return player today. But I managed to break through mentally, just tried to push myself and convince myself to be aggressive and don't get to the long rallies for no reason.
That's what I did. I played quite smart from 2 All in the third set.
Q. Was that the toughest match you've had for the last two weeks in China?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it's certainly one of the toughest, yeah. You know, Gilles is one of the trickiest players on the tour, because he always gets an extra ball back and you have to earn every point.
You know, he might look, you know, a bit strange the way he moves and plays, but he's not an easy opponent at all. His quality proves everything in last year and a half.
I was well aware of the match that we will have and we had in the past. We basically every match we had in last year and a half was like this. I keep on winning and keep on playing those good shots in important moments, and I think that's what matters.
I think I was quite nervous throughout the whole match, because I knew that I would have to work hard for most of the points.
Q. It would be easy for someone in your situation who's already qualified for London, and you've won a title last week, to not take your foot off the gas, but I don't think anyone would expect you to be out of your skin the whole time. That's just not your character.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, I mean, look, we're all professionals. In every match we play, we want to win. That's the sport we're in. That's our job. That's our life. You know, there's many benefits from a win. (laughter.)
Regardless if it's 250 event or Grand Slam, I try to give my maximum always, and I'm really happy that I've gained the momentum in the last two months. It's important, you know, just prior to Bercy and London, which is the most important event in this period of the year. And, as you said, I mean, I qualified already, but that doesn't change anything in my approach to the tournaments that I have now.
Q. Simon said earlier that every time you beat him in a tournament you go on and win the championships. What's your assessment for this championship after winning the China Open?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I hope he's right every time. (laughter.) Yeah, we have a good relationship. He's a great guy, very funny guy.
You know, I don't know if he told you about the socks. I mean, I borrowed him socks a couple of days ago. So, yeah, I mean, look, we always have long matches, interesting matches for the crowd, and I think that's what the people want. They want to see long rallies, long matches.
They want to see somebody breaking the racquet like I did today and just screaming all over the place and making a fool of myself, but I guess this is sport.
Q. 1 to 10, how do you rate your service game today? It not seemed that well.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, in the first three games in the third set, 0.5. (laughter.) And after, generally was 1.2, probably. (laughter.)
Q. Do you enjoy playing guys like Gilles? And if yes, are there other players which you particularly enjoy matching up with? Because it seems as though you're nervous, but seems as though you're really having a good time out there.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: The only enjoyment I have is when I'm up a match point and I see the guy cannot reach my ball when I win. That's the only enjoyment I have.
I don't play enjoy playing anybody, because I got to put an effort in every match, and everybody's playing tennis today, you know. You know, in order to stay at the level I am right now, I will have to beat all these guys. I do enjoy playing tennis, but I don't enjoy playing my opponents.
Q. But what I meant was the style of his game. Do you find that it is a fun style to match up against?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No.
Q. So you don't enjoy playing tennis?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No. I told you I enjoy playing tennis, but I don't enjoy playing anybody on the tour, and especially Gilles who gets always balls back and wins some impossible points.
Q. How do you think about a semifinal? You will play Davydenko again. Last year you play him in the Masters Cup final, so what do you think about this?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Um, I hope I will repeat the same success I had Masters Cup last year against him. You know, it's kind of a deja vu, playing with Simon semis and him in finals. So many years on the tour, Nikolay, and very aggressive player and takes the ball very early.
So I will have to have good tactics tomorrow and just be ready for aggression from the other side of the net and hope I will have patience and I'll be wise enough to win.
Q. What's the problem with you in the tiebreak?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: There was no problem. He played too good.
Q. Given your good performances so far in China, how much of a disappointment is this, this kind of a day?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I'm disappointed, because I think I played a great match, but overall, these two weeks have been great for me.
Q. Is it physical fitness is your main problem in this match?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No.
Q. No? So what is the main problem you met today?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It was just his good game.
Q. Is this one of the best matches he played against you?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, probably.
Q. Could you comment on the organization of Shanghai ATP 1000 Series? Are you satisfied with the organization?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I'm very satisfied.
It is one of the best organized tournaments in the world. Should be example to the whole tournaments. They have everything that the players need to be happy.
Q. Looking to London, obviously this is a blow. Do you feel you can bounce back from this? Will this provide more motivation perhaps going to London?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, there is still two tournaments to go before London, so I'm not thinking about London this moment.