ROLAND GARROS

June 13, 2021

Marian Vajda

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What do you think of this victory? What were the hardest moments for him? How does it compare to some of the ones in the past for you?

MARIAN VAJDA: Hello. Well, I think if I compare the semifinal match against Rafa here, I think I have to take it as one of the best semifinals here in Roland Garros, what they played. I think everything relates to that semifinal.

I had believed that if he beat Rafa, I told already before, before Roland Garros, that if he beat him in semis, then he has a pretty good chance to win the tournament. Even though Stefanos played incredible tennis in the final, first two sets, obviously the level of Novak, he increased the level of tennis higher, and physically he come back.

I was really worried a little bit the first two sets that after two sets I just hoped for to gain the energy because he was real flat in the second set. Obviously it fell on him everything, like four sets with Rafa, the first two sets. I think he was a little flat in the first two sets. First set he had a set point obviously. He could have done it. He didn't went good enough for return.

Overall, I mean, he come back. That was the most important point of the final. He had this belief. I think Rafa's game gave him a lot of confidence, believing in himself that he can win the French Open. First two sets it took him little bit off because maybe he was thinking too much ahead. Then he was able to be in present after first two sets. Then he just prevail his tennis.

The momentum just went to his side, and he was just very solid, serving well, returning as well very good. Just keep up with the game throughout the whole three sets, then finishing off with a good style. He had also to have a double break for 5-2, but he didn't made it. I know the 5-4 was a difficult game, one of the toughest, because he was thinking to win it. The many thoughts come to his brain. But at the end he was able to just focus on point by point. He just finish it in the way that he finished to win the Roland Garros for second time.

That was fantastic win.

Q. You've seen it all with Novak. Are you still surprised what he's able to do? 19 Grand Slam titles, twice Roland Garros now, coming back from two sets down. Is it still surprising you or do you feel it's normal? Were you expecting all of this?

MARIAN VAJDA: I never know what's going to happen. You can predict him as the winner, but Roland Garros is the most toughest Grand Slams in the history. Always tough because it's clay and it's tiring. It's different game. You have to adjust to the clay basically. You have to come through a lot of, lot of tough times.

Novak was able to do it basically throughout those two weeks always. I think he was much better than the last year mentally. Then I was also more calm because I see he found the game just before the Roland Garros. He won the tournament in the hometown, Belgrade, that gives him a lot of good confidence before to come here.

Basically he roll on match by match. He was able to pick up just to the final and in the final. His game was really dominating. He was able to mix up the shots with spin and flat. He was able to serve up, mixing up his serve. Everything come along. It's just prevail the best tennis.

On clay, I think I appreciate this trophy much more than years ago, 2016, when he beat Andy, because it was kind of the level of tennis was not there of Novak. Maybe he was more like first time, he was more nervous than now, because he use his experience at the end in the final today.

Q. A question about the ability of Novak to be back from two sets to love. He's made it twice during this tournament. In both cases you have Novak before the third set and after. How does he work mentally to switch his level?

MARIAN VAJDA: I think Novak is ready to play five sets. He's physically ready, mentally ready. He has so many matches, those kind of matches, he played so many five sets here. He had not really good ones when he was young. He learned from that. He lost to, for instance, Melzer 2009.

I think overall if you are ready for that, that you going to play five sets, because it's possible. I mean, every match is look like on clay it's very the momentum is changing. Most of the time it's just tough to hold the serve. The momentum is changing much more often than maybe on hard court. You are able to keep up with the score, you keep up with the longevity of the match.

If you are really good clay court specialist, like Rafa, he has a special game for the clay. He doesn't need to work that hard for the clay because he has everything, the shots, the selection of shots, technically he's just perfect to stay on the clay for longer.

But Novak have to find his game throughout the clay court season. He pick it up just at the moment, at the right moment. I think his mind was set up for to win it, to win it, to win the Grand Slam. This helps him a lot to overcome always when he's in the difficult moments.

Q. Novak will start as the favorite at Wimbledon. He will start as the favorite at the US Open. Do you think he could complete the calendar Grand Slam this year? What are the qualities that you admire the most about Novak?

MARIAN VAJDA: Well, we said with Goran that if he accomplish the year, the Grand Slams, that we going to quit, we officially announce this as coaches (laughter).

I think is possible, much more possible. He loves to play in Wimbledon and US Open. I was worried a little bit more about clay court, because for period of long time, in past 10 years, let's say, he had a great results, and he could have done much more at the French Open, but just couldn't make it. Wawrinka final, then bitter lose all the time. To get back on clay and then to win Grand Slam was tougher and tougher year by year.

As you win one time, then you get the confidence for next time. You really relaxed and you more experience with the matches. You know how it goes, you remember more of the shots. So it's great.

As much as Novak is healthy, and he's healthy right now, he's in great shape, I think he has ability to win the Grand Slam for this year. I'm pretty sure.

The next question, sorry? I didn't get the second question.

Q. What are the qualities you admire the most about Novak? Resilience? Perseverance?

MARIAN VAJDA: Everything. I am really pleased and admiring his approach always. He's absolutely professional. He's putting himself like more under pressure on practices. He wants to really improve over every element of his game. This is amazing. I really admire that, that he wants to be better and better.

I remember as a player, I always wanted to be, as well, to develop my game, but I couldn't. In some moment I had limits. Looks like Novak still see the game, his game, at the level that he can really go much farther, improve on serve, backhand, overall game, volleys.

This makes me so happy as a coach. I really appreciate that approach to his practices, behind-the-scenes tennis. It allows him to be always the best at the Grand Slams.

Q. You talked about the possibility of the calendar slam. At the same time he has a shot for Golden Slam, which is gold medal in the Olympics. I know he hasn't decided if he's going to play the Olympics or not. Is that possibility of the Golden Slam in your head? Do you think it's in his head?

MARIAN VAJDA: Obviously his goal and our goal is to win the Olympics and then win the Grand Slam. That would be the absolutely top of this year. But it's still far away from us. We have to still focus on the next one.

But overall he's set up for this year. His priority is really set up like Wimbledon, Olympics, and US Open. I think that says all. His schedule is according that we practice and prepare for those tournaments.