THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 28, 2021

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/J. Draper

4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Your serving was impeccable, 25 aces. Your volleys looked crisp. Was that a part of the game you were particularly impressed with? Could you have a quick word about Dame Sarah Gilbert, who invented the AstraZeneca vaccine, and got a standing ovation before you came on court.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think I probably had one of the best serving performances that I can recall on any surface. I think I matched, someone told me, the record I had whether it was earlier this year or last year in Australia, also 25 aces in four sets.

Yeah, I could not be more pleased with the rhythm of my serve. On grass, the quickest surface in our sport, it helps a lot getting a lot of free points on that first serve.

I thought he was playing well. He was fighting. Obviously for him, a unique occasion playing for the first time on Wimbledon Centre Court. He has done well. Had break chances in the first set to come back into the match. He came up with some good serves. I was kind of slipping a few times on those breakpoints. Still finding my footing, I would say, on the grass that was quite slippery, quite moist. It was probably because of the roof.

But anyway, was a very good performance. I'm pleased with the second, third and fourth set, the way I played from the back of the court. I started returning better, as well, midway second set.

All in all, I'm satisfied.

I don't know who you were referring to in the second question. I heard a standing ovation. Yes, as I was coming onto the court, but I didn't know who it was to be for, to be honest.

Q. I'm sure you remember your Centre Court debut. What did you make of the way Jack handled the occasion, and what impressed you about his game?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, we never faced each other. He's a youngster, 19 years old. He's tall, he's strong. He's got that lefty serve that is very awkward for right-handed players to face, particularly on grass.

I thought he was behaving nice on the court. I mean, he was backing himself. He was trying his best. Obviously I think I raised the quality and the level of my tennis in the second set. I felt like I had things under control.

But nevertheless, he had a crowd behind him. Was a really nice atmosphere. I think he's got an all-around game really. A very good flat backhand, also a good forehand. Maybe his movement could improve I think. Probably can and should move a bit better. But he's still young. There's always room for improvement. But he's got a very good base, I would say.

Q. I read today that Jack's father tried to persuade your family in 2006 to get the British citizen. Is that true? How do you remember that story?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I've read that, as well, yesterday. I do not know who at that time was discussing the potential citizenship for me with my dad, because my dad and my mom, they were discussing with people from LTA. To be honest, I did not know. I was also surprised with what I read about Jack's father.

Yeah, it's kind of an interesting information. But there's not much to say about that. It was a very long time ago. Yeah, we did get an offer. There was some discussions, but it was very short because I and my parents did not want to move from Serbia, even though it was very challenging economically to sustain a career of a professional player.

Q. You've probably been asked this question many times, but Wimbledon is very known for its tradition. Which tradition here do you like the most? Is it the white clothing or something else? What do you appreciate?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, quite a few things. I feel like, yes, all white dress code is quite clean and elegant, looks really nice. You also kind of feel privileged to be part of that tradition and history that kind of goes for a very long time. I'm not sure how many years, but really a long time.

It's impressive that Wimbledon managed to maintain and nurture that tradition also of a defending champion going out on, so to say, virgin grass, no one playing on it before.

There's several other things I feel like. For example, the lack of advertisement, absence of advertisement, sorry, on the Centre Court is something that is really nice to see, honestly. I mean, we live in a very commercial world nowadays. All the tournaments are obviously always looking to have as many sponsors as possible. But Wimbledon is refusing to give up their own tradition of keeping everything clean and focused on the players and on the tennis court. I find that very fascinating, considering the times in the world that we're living in today.

Q. One of the things you just mentioned about the tradition of the champion playing first on day one in Wimbledon history has only been for the men's singles champion. Would you be open alternating that the women going first on Centre Court every other year or give them a shot to also have that honor of being first on day one?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Why not? Why not? I'm not in the committee of Wimbledon, so I don't make those decisions. My opinion, of course, in terms of decisions-making process doesn't matter much.

But why not? Of course, that would be nice to see. They deserve it. I will be in favor for it.