[인터뷰] 두바이 (8강~결승)
Q. As transformations go, that was pretty remarkable by any standards, wasn't it, really?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it was very similar start of the second round match as well. Very slow start for me. Terrible serves. You know, the opponent was serving well.
As well as he served, I think he served as well as anybody on the tour right now. It's very difficult for me to get some returns back and try to get in some rally. That was my goal, basically.
So I was just trying to be patient and wait for my opportunities, and when I faced them, I should use them. That's what I did. And I think the crucial moment was basically at 3-All when I saved some break balls in that important 10th game of the second set where I got some returns back and put some pressure on him, you know.
And I was aware if I get into the rally I have more chances of winning the point, and that was my advantage.
Q. You're one of the guys at the very top of the game. Obviously, you view the slams as the one to win and then the Masters Series. Do you view tournaments like this as maybe a tournament to experiment and try a few things? Kind of not a public practice session, but just an experimental sort of thing?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, I wouldn't agree with that. I think that every tournament is important tournament. So that's the way I accepted every tournament in my professional career. Who knows what's going to happen tomorrow, so I play every match -- try to play 100%, and try to win every match I play.
I cannot calculate and I cannot experiment. Of course sometimes maybe you should prioritize some bigger events. But, look, you know, we are professionals, and we are here to perform as best as we can.
There is not just a lot of expectations from ourselves and our people that are surrounding us. It's just the tournament and people who come to watch you. You carry certain responsibility when you are Top 5, Top 10 in the world. You cannot just go out there and practice, you know. So that's my opinion.
Q. Just back to tonight's match. Did you expect it to be 6-Love in the decider?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, definitely not (smiling).
Q. What happened?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I was, look, as I said, after losing the first set comfortably, I tried to play point-by-point, game-by-game. Try to hold my serve. And I knew that at a certain point he's going to miss couple of first serves, and that was my chance and that was it, you know. The 10th game kind of decided the match.
Q. Did you are detect any loss of spirit though in the third set?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I used it. Couple of points decided the second set. I managed to get the break in the most important moment. Then I got the big confidence boost, and I was basically on the wings.
Then I started hitting the ball and feeling really comfortable.
Q. All those years you worked together and worked with the same coach, you probably know Ivan's game better than anyone on the tour?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, we know each other really well. I'm still young, you know. I didn't play so many years as he did on the tour. But as soon as I got to the professional tour I -- he was one of the people that was introducing me to the game. I was practicing with him for a year, year-and-a-half with his team. We had the same coach.
We were very good friends outside of the court. We lived in the same place and we practiced many times. So, yeah, we know each other's game really well. But even though if he serves like that, I mean, he can be your brother but doesn't matter, you know. You can't get the ball back.
So, yeah, there was no secrets. And I knew that my chances are from the baseline.
Q. So what do you say to somebody you know that well when you've just had a close match until it's 6-Love in the third set? What do you say, just too bad?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I guess that's what I said (smiling). You know, it's hard because one or two points decide a match. That's tennis. That's professional level. Anybody who plays everybody plays well. It's a matter of the momentum, if you're mentally strong to play the right shot at the right time and to position yourself well. I was lucky, you know. Just lucky today.
Q. Do you ever feel sorry for an opponent in that situation?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, because, you know, I want to win, so I don't want to lie to you. I just want to win against my opponent, and I feel happy for me.
Q. You have to show that ruthless streak when the opportunity arises?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, exactly.
Q. You've not only proved yourself as a tennis player this week. You also proved yourself as something of a doctor?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Doctor?
Q. With Mr. Tipsarevic's cold remedy?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Did he tell you?
Q. Yeah. What did you say to him?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah. He shouldn't have revealed the secrets of my knowledge.
Q. So you're a big believer in garlic?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, yeah. In Serbia we tend to heal ourselves in a very natural way. Try not to take all these medications, tablets, and pills. So any kind of food, fruit whatever, something that comes from nature is good.
So garlic doesn't feel good, really when you eat it, and your probably girlfriend doesn't want to spend time next to you. So he told me that the next morning his fiancee now, future wife, when he woke up the night before he had the garlic -- when he woke up next morning he just saw a note, yeah, darling I went to shopping. See you in a couple of days when you clear up your breath (laughing).
Q. What is it about this part of the world that you like and that you find different from any other place you're playing?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, look, this city is very international. People are so kind. It's incredible. I used the opportunity to come here for ten days prior to 2010 Australian Open, the new season, and came here to prepare. I was at the Habtoor Grand Resort just next to the beach and staying there. Met the family and they were very kind to me. So the people are really trying to welcome everybody in the best possible way, trying to attract people.
Every time I come here I see a row of new buildings growing. I don't know from where. They work 24/7. It's a future city, definitely. So much things to do.
Q. Roger lives here. Will you ever think about buying a place here?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, look, you know, I'm scratching my head now because -- well, I still like Belgrade and Monte-Carlo where I spend most of my time.
Q. But it's a training base?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It's a training base, exactly. So I'll think about it.
Q. Do you like making it difficult?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I was just saying, you know, it's incredible struggle again. Losing the first set and coming back. Playing almost three hours against somebody that keeps the ball in the court in the rally for a long time.
And, you know, it was very close. Every game was on the edge, I think. But still my serve wasn't on the level that I wanted it to be. A lot of double faults, a lot of breakpoints saved or lost or whatever, but a lot of breakpoints in general. So that is something that I really don't want to have anymore.
But, you know, when you have a good serve and it gives you a little more advantage, free points, and mental confidence. You know, I didn't have that in today's match. So I had to work it out with my legs and fighting spirit, I guess.
Q. Your percent of first serve is good, 60%, but direction is bad?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Really? Direction and speed of a chicken. Yeah, this is one of the tournaments that -- just one of the days that you don't feel like, you know, I'm defending. I have periods in the match where I played really well couple of games, and then I played really, really bad couple of games.
It's ups and downs, and it shouldn't be happening at this level. I'm just fortunate to go through, you know. You know, I was fighting, I was holding on as well as I did in the last two matches.
But, you know, I don't want to I guess look on the negative side. I'm in the finals. I have a chance to defend my title.
Q. Three three-set matches: How are the energy levels?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I've got to find it. Tomorrow's the final. There is no excuse. You know, I'm tired definitely. It's been a long week for me, but finals is finals and I have faced this kind of feeling and situation before in my life. So there is no -- nothing new. I will rest as much as I can and get ready.
Q. Will you have some garlic also?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Maybe garlic, maybe I don't know. Janko left, so I don't have anybody to share with (smiling).
Q. Can you talk about playing tomorrow Mikhail?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, against Mikhail, I lost a couple of weeks ago in Rotterdam two tie breakers. I should have won that match, I think. In my opinion, I felt the ball well but just didn't play the right shots at the right time and he won in the end.
So I am motivated to win another title and get my revenge back. He's a very talented player. Even though he looks strange the way his technique is on the court, still he's able to play defensive and offensive really well and slice. When he's on a roll, he deserves to definitely with the quality-wise to be Top 5. He's been playing here top level for many years.
Big support, you know, my side, his side. Lot of Russians, lot of Serbs here. Let's see what happens.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I know. It's the serve. I know.
Q. Well done, Novak. You got the job done eventually but it took a heck of a long time, didn't it?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, look, obviously this tournament I don't allow myself to win in straight sets except the first round, you know. Even though when I can finish the job in two sets, I still want to play, you know. Thinking about people who bought tickets and want to stay a bit longer, and I really don't know what's going on (laughing).
But, generally, it took a lot of energy for me. Stopping and playing, and coming back and then again stopping the match last night because of the rain. As I was saying, if we continued last night, I think I had much better chances to get the job done in two sets. I felt really well on the court, hitting the ball, feeling relaxed.
Today I was really nervous before the match, during the match for no reason. You could see my frustrations when I lost the break at 4-All.
But, you know, again, I think more or less a very similar story from the past matches here in this tournament. I am down in the match and basically on the verge of losing the match but still coming back, fighting through. Winning the tournament in any way it's a huge success.
I know what are my holes in the game, let's call it in this way. The disadvantages, the elements in my game that weren't working for me throughout the week. I'm well aware of my serve and everything, you know. It's a very mental game. People don't realize how much tension you have to go through throughout the match, ups and downs, highs and lows. And it's all part of the game. It's not easy.
So I will try to look on the positive side of everything. And I am playing Davis Cup now. And after Indian Wells, Miami, I'm sure with the proper rest and good work, good practices, everything will come to normal.
Q. So what does it mean to successfully defend the title?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it means the whole world to me. Of course there are always people who are saying he can't do it. He can't do it. But I'm playing for myself, and this is another success in my career that I wasn't able to make in the last two years. But now, finally, I did it, and it's a big relief. So in the future I just hope I'll make a couple more of those.
Q. But that's a fact that you've admitted that you've not played your best tennis this whole week and still come out defending the title. Does that give you a big boost for the rest of the season?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It does, actually. You know, confidence-wise it's a big boost because I believe in myself, you know. Even when I play bad, I know I have the abilities some -- well, if you want to call it reserve or secret weapons, you know -- running all over the court, trying to fight and play the right shots. Try to look and wait patiently for the chances from my opponent that have been given to me and then use them.
Today was another good example of how much I believe in myself and how much I fight till the end. So I'm really happy that this is one of the advantages in my game, I guess.
Q. How were the conditions, Novak? It was blustery and cool last night, dark. And then today, baking hot and calm.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Very different conditions. I was saying before after my second round against Troicki when I won in three sets. I played my first set in the night, next one in the day, and next two in the night as well. And now half night, half day, very different.
I think this is one of the tournaments where you feel the conditions change most. I think in my opinion, my case, the ball travels so fast during the day, it's incredible. It's like ten times faster than during the night. It's much less control during the day, so it's frustrating. It's frustrating.
But you've got to get used to it, you know. It's not only for me, it's for my opponent the same thing. Just happy to get the win out of this weekend, yeah.
Q. Did that contribute to the alarming miss you had when it was looking like 4-3, and you had that forehand down the line?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Oh, yeah. I was it was a little bit windy and the ball came to my body and surprised me a little bit. It was quite makeable shot. I had the whole court on the right side open and I missed it.
Then he regained the mental control over the match. He broke me and broke back and broke again. You know, a lot of ups and downs in the match. Throughout the whole tournament there were a lot of ups and downs.
When you look at it overall, I think that's what makes you stronger, you know. It's easy when you win straight sets and you say wow I played unbelievable. Everything is working well. But when you're not playing well and then you're winning and finding the way to win against your opponent, I think that's a big event.
Q. You struggled a lot this week with your serve. Have you changed something in your move? Maybe especially when your racquet is down?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, yeah, I know. It has changed. The problem is that there's too many things, and too many people saying a lot of things. It all affects mentally and a lot of side factors. As I said, very mental game.
I'm still trying to get back to the old serve and old move. It takes time I guess, you know. But when you're playing matches day after day and you don't have time one day to really relax and focus on the practice and the serve -- I didn't have time, you know. Every day since Monday I have played a match. So I will try to work until Friday when I have my first Davis Cup match, try to work a little bit more.
I'm sure it's going to come back, you know. It's not a huge problem. It's just mental. It's nothing I didn't change a whole lot.
Q. You spoke about your evolution in your game. What are the other points that you think you're changing over the year?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I don't want to make any radical changes in my game, because I think my game is quite good for the top level.
What I changed lately is some variation in my game, like slice and change of pace which I think I'm doing much better now, and I have more options in the game, of course, net play. You know, I have been working with of course a new member of our team, Todd Martin, on that and it has been working well. I feel well when I step in the court and just use the opportunities to go to the net.
Of course sometimes it's not successful, but most of the times even in the matches you can see the stats, I was quite successful on the net. So that's what I have to use more, you know, in order to save the energy.
Q. You said on court you'd definitely be back. Presumably it could be a hat trick of titles here?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, look, I can't make a promise because you never know what's going to happen next year. But the way things stand right now I will ensure if everything goes right with my health I will be back. Because the people here are just fantastic, friendly, and they make me feel and my team so comfortable. We are very relaxed. Of course when you are off court so relaxed and you have an enjoyable time, you perform well on the court.
Q. We are local media of the Emirates. We'd like to give you the new nickname, Dubai-o-vic. What do you think?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Dubai-o-vic, okay. Another one, why not?
Q. I was wondering if you're still involved in the TV project about the life of King Alexander of Serbia?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, unfortunately right now it's no good because I have no time, and the project didn't work out well. So it's suspended for some time. We'll see.
My tennis career is my priority right now. But of course it would be a big honor to play such an important historical person of Serbia.
Q. But you've got a role in Ironman 2? Is it true?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I got offered.But, again, my time, my schedule, so...