THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 5, 2022

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/J. Sinner

5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Just give us your thoughts on that match.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, exciting match to be a part of. Not that exciting for me the first two sets. But, you know, after that, I kind of played a new match, to be honest.

From the start of the third, I played three really very solid, very high-quality tennis sets. From the very beginning of the third when I broke his serve early I felt, you know, that I found my rhythm and tempo on the shots.

Yeah, it was two different kind of matches and I felt completely different from the start of the third.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You said on the court that after the second set you had a bit of a chat with yourself in the toilet break. I imagine that was a fairly aggressive conversation.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Not really. There was no aggressivity there. It was just a pep talk, positive talk. As negative and down you feel on yourself in those moments, even though as fake as it looks or sounds to you, it really gives you an effect and support if you are trying to, you know, find the right and positive affirmations and tell it to yourself and kind of reanimate yourself in a way.

So that's what I have done. I've done that after I lost two sets in finals of Roland Garros against Tsitsipas, and today it worked. It doesn't always work. It's not a guarantee it will always work.

But, yeah, I just felt like I had to change something. I was not playing well, I was not feeling well on the court, I was dominated by Sinner. Thankfully Grand Slams are played in best-of-five, so I had opportunity to come back.

Q. Can you just tell us more about what went wrong in the first two sets. Why you didn't feel well.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I thought I started very well, was 4-1 up and breakpoint for double break. He served well. I was playing against the wind and just played a very bad game, two double faults, two missed dropshots to lose the serve 4-3, and just momentum shifted to his side.

I started doubting my shots. He started believing in himself more. He just had a better, I guess, mentality on the court. He had confidence to step in and dictate the play. I was not staying in the rallies. I was missing, I was too passive, and it happens. You know, on this level that particularly on grass everything happens very fast.

So if you're not also serving well, as I was not serving well at all from the end of the first and the entire second set, he was reading my serves, he was attacking my serves. So I was really in a defense mode, to be honest. Just not much positive happening for me in terms of my game.

And then, but, you know, I always believed that I could come back. I know that, you know, experience that I have could eventually prevail in these kind of situations. You know, I didn't have any physical injuries or anything like that. It was just a matter of momentum shift. I felt that beginning of the third set is crucial, you know, to start well, try to break his serve early. That's what happened.

Q. I just wanted to ask you, when you come into matches in a Grand Slam, knowing that you are probably unlikely to play another slam for some time, is there added pressure? Do you feel like you are playing more than your opponent at times?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I wouldn't necessarily say that I have completely new motivation because of the circumstances. I feel always very motivated and inspired to play the best tennis on the Grand Slams, particularly here. I mean, this is arguably the most important tournament in the history of our sport.

So, I mean, definitely for me it is. I have said it before that it has, this tournament and this Centre Court has inspired me to start playing tennis. Of course it was always my childhood dream to be here. Every time I step out on that court, I feel obliged to give it all, you know. But also inspired by the amazing setting of the Centre Court and of Wimbledon as most traditional historic tournament.

What happens after Wimbledon is really, you know, is unpredictable at the moment, so I don't pay attention too much to that. I try to focus my thoughts here, and then we will see what happens afterwards.

Q. I think that's your 42nd five-set match in Grand Slams. When the fifth set starts, does it feel like normal life to you?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: (Laughter.) Well, it depends of the opponent and of course the surface, but the more, the better your record in fifth set, the better you feel every next fifth set you play. Of course it's logical.

Particularly if you play against young players like Sinner who didn't have too many five-set matches in his life and was first quarterfinals for him, you know, not too many matches on the Centre Court, I guess, for him in his career here in Wimbledon.

So all these things play a role. How big of a role, that really is dependent on both players. I don't think it plays a decisive role, even though it does look like that if you see the scoreline today. But it does definitely help knowing mentally that you have been in these particular situations and you had success in the past.

So of course, you know, you approach these particular situations when you're two sets down a bit more calmly, a bit more confident, with ore self-belief, if that could be a definition of it. Whereas if you don't have the experience there, you're just maybe sometimes you don't have anything to lose and you're feeling like you're not thinking about various scenarios in the future.

But most of the times, you know, in these kind of occasions for the young players, you know, they get to experience maybe something they have never experienced before.

I feel like Sinner, you know, coming into the match didn't have much to lose, but he had a lot to lose when he was two sets to love up. I could feel that mentally with him.

So I'm sure he's gonna get better as the time passes by, because he's a fantastic player and very mentally present, devoted, professional. Sure we are going to see a lot of him on the big stage.

Q. What about your next opponent? If it's Cameron Norrie you may have the crowd against you and you might have to run all day because that's what Cam does. You played him last year. What do you know of him and his talents?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, we played indoor World Tour Finals, only one encounter that we had, and of course different conditions, different tournament, environment than what it would be playing here in Wimbledon on Centre Court semifinals of a slam in his country, of course. I know what to expect if that happens, you know, in terms of the crowd support and everything that you mentioned.

Again, for him, not much to lose. Every victory from now onwards is a big deal for him. I know that.

But, you know, I practiced few times. I know his game well. He's been around. Of course I will do my homework and get ready.

Q. And David Goffin? Quite experienced, as well.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes, I played David here some years ago I think in quarterfinals and played him more than I played Norrie, and he's already kind of a veteran of the game and has been around for quite a while.

Just one of the lightest footwork that you're going to see on the tennis court. Just so quick to adjust to the shots and one of the best-looking backhands in the game. He plays quite flat from forehand and backhand side, which is suitable to this surface.

Look, you know, it's semifinals of a Grand Slam. Whoever you get to face, it's a show time, so better be at your best.