ROLAND GARROS

May 23, 2022

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/Y. Nishioka

6-3, 6-1, 6-0

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Have to be pleased with the start. Beginning of the match, until I really got used to and kind of adapted to his game, it was difficult to go through him. You know, he's very quick, one of the quickest players on the tour.

The conditions, quite slow. Ball was not bouncing, and it was just difficult to penetrate him, I think.

So the first set was very close, but managed to find, I think, the right serves at the right time. That helped.

Then I cruised through the second and third really when I started going through the ball a bit more.

So, you know, I have to be pleased overall. Of course, you know, I always expect highest from myself, so I can always do better, but was a very good start of the tournament.

Q. What is your feeling about the night session with people, crowded?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, you know, night sessions are still young here in Roland Garros few years, but this is the first time that we have 100% capacity, so of course it was fun.

You know, it's nice to have the full crowd, and I was lucky to be scheduled on the center court because of the rain interruptions today was many matches were not completed.

Obviously center court being the only one with the roof helps a lot when, you know, you're going to finish your match.

You know, at night usually in all slams, in all tournaments, the atmosphere is more energetic, more electric, crowd gets into it. Yeah, it was a good experience.

Q. It had been a little while since you had played in a Grand Slam tournament. How does that sort of setting and stage feel different?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I did not notice any particular disturbance, so to say, mentally or in my preparation or throughout the entire match today.

I actually looked forward to getting out on the court. I have been feeling very well on clay in the last, you know, three, four weeks, of course. Excited to bring out intensity on the court and compete with the guys.

So, look, I'm happy to be back. Roland Garros is one of the biggest tournaments in the world, and the memories from last year still are fresh in my head, in my mind. It was nice to be back on the center court.

Q. Do you think this is the most unbalanced draw that you have ever seen? I mean, with four players out of the top five in the same half.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I mean, the draw is the draw. You know, you can't really affect it. It's a matter of, I don't know, luck or some other force interfering with who is going to come to which side and quarter and semi and whatever.

Look, you know, I did look at the draw. I think we all do. But in the end of the day, you always have to turn your attention to only the next challenge.

Q. This is the first time we have had to speak to you since the ATP announced about the points at Wimbledon. What are your thoughts on that, and the idea of you heading there as a defending champion without any points?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I mean, on a personal level, of course, without getting a chance to play and defend, you know, my 4,000 points I'm going to drop in this year, Australia and Wimbledon. So of course on a personal, individual level, I have been very negatively affected by that. But I have been speaking with management and the president of ATP and some of the council members actually in the last few days.

I think collectively I'm glad that players got together with ATP, the governing body of the men's tennis, and showed to the Grand Slam that, you know, when there is a mistake happening, and there was from the Wimbledon side, then we have to show that there is going to be some consequences.

So I support the players, unification always. I have always done that. I will always do that. Of course it's up to Wimbledon or LTA, whoever was making that decision to make that decision.

But I didn't know, for example, a few days ago I found out that there was a document of recommendation from the English government towards the All England Club and where they had several options. There was not only one on the table.

They haven't discussed it with anybody from ATP or any individual players or for that matter Russian or Belarusian players to, you know, just communicate and understand whether there is a common ground where both sides could be making a compromise and something could work out.

So I think it was a wrong decision. I don't support that at all. But, you know, during these times, it's supersensitive subject, and anything that you decide, it's unfortunately going to create a lot of conflict, a lot of separation instead of unification.

I think that, you know, they could have taken into consideration -- for example, you know, I heard there was some recommendations coming also from WTA and ATP that possibly men's and women's players from Belarusia, Ukraine, and Russia could play together some exhibition event during the slam or something like this or somebody could play mixed doubles and prize money could go to the victims in Ukraine, and stuff like this. You know, there was different ideas, but there was never really, unfortunately, a strong communication coming from Wimbledon.

That's why I think it's just wrong. Whether there was and there is a better solution than just taking away the points and not allowing players to earn points or defend points, because they have two groups of players that are going to -- everyone is affected.

So for me or for the guys that did well last year, we not only not going to have chance to earn points but we can't defend them.

There are some guys that obviously, you know, not going to have a chance to earn points. Of course it's a very unique and weird situation, I must say. Of course Grand Slam is still Grand Slam. Wimbledon for me was always my dream tournament when I was a child.

You know, I don't look at it through the lens of points or prize money. For me, it's something else. But again, there has to be some standards or criteria, some respect, mutual respect, I think.

Yeah, I think maybe there is always going to be some groups of players that are going to be affected more negatively, and they are going to complain more.

It's hard, really. It's hard to say what is right, what is wrong. This is one of these kind of decisions and situations where is always going to be someone that will suffer more. It's kind of, I would say, lose-lose situation for everyone.