AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 14, 2023

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Novak, how special was last night, that charity match on Rod Laver, with Nick?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, it was great to be, of course, back in Melbourne and Rod Laver Arena playing with Nick for a great cause in front of the packed stadium. Lots of fans. Great energy. Great tennis.

I was really glad that we also got to play with the wheelchair tennis champions, as well. I thought it was important to shine the light on them and everything they're doing, which is really heroic. Also some young future stars.

I was very emotional honestly coming into the court because, as I said on the on-court interview, with the reception that I received, I didn't know how that's going to go like after events of last year.

I'm very grateful for the kind of energy and reception, love and support I got last night.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. With that in mind, the reception you got last night, you said in your interview you felt last year you were portrayed as the villain of the world. Do you still feel that way now?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, I don't. It was more specific, you know, probably towards some media that did portray me this way. That's in the past now. I don't feel anything similar this year.

Q. You say it's in the past now. You seem very light and very joyful here. I'm curious how you don't show up here without a chip on your shoulder. I say that as someone who holds grudges. What did you do? How did you just move on from such an experience?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, you have to. I mean, in a way, if I do hold the grudges, probably if I'm not able to move on, I wouldn't be here.

Also I have to say that the amount of positive experiences I had in Australia overwhelm the negative experience maybe of last year.

My impression of Australia, my vision of Australia, has always been very positive, and that has reflected on my performance. My results are a testament to how you feel here.

I was really looking forward to come back and play tennis because that's ultimately what I do best, what I always wanted to do, what I wanted to do last year.

I'm really looking forward to play in front of the people and hopefully bring them some good fun and good vibes.

Q. A lot of athletes say when they're criticized, they convert it into motivation and fuel, it energizes them. I remember last year it seemed like you did a lot of training when you couldn't play events. You were really pretty determined. I wondered if that had been a part of it?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes, absolutely. I mean, you normally as a professional tennis player on the highest level don't have much time to really have a longer training block, so to say. We have a very long season. If you play biggest events, four slams, nine Masters events, of course other 500s, 250s, you play for your country, the season is very, very long.

You have few weeks here and there, other than maybe those four or five weeks that you have in off-season, you really don't have any longer training blocks, which at times is really necessary, and it's very I think welcome in a way.

Once you're in that rhythm of playing, of competing, you kind of don't have maybe time to address certain things about your game or your body.

The fact that I wasn't playing for several months beginning of last year allowed me to really get together with my team and work on my body, on my strokes, which has later helped me to achieve some great results.

Q. We saw you dealing with the hamstring issue last week. How is it now? Do you feel fully fit going into your first round?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I've been struggling with that a bit, to be honest, the last seven days. But it's hopefully not the major concern. So far I've been able to train, compete and play points, practice sets. So that's a positive sign.

Obviously, I'm being a bit more cautious. I'm not going full out on the training sessions, conserving the energy for next week. Hopefully it won't cause an issue for me then.

Q. The Grand Slam chase, I know it matters to you, you have a chance to tie here. Is that motivation in your mind?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Of course, it is. I mean, that's why I keep on playing professional tennis, competition tennis, because I want to be the best, I want to win the biggest tournaments in the world. There is no secret about it.

It doesn't get bigger than this. You have four slams that historically have been the biggest events in our sport. It's also one of the biggest reasons why I was really looking forward to come back to Australia: because of my record here. I really love playing in Rod Laver Arena, particularly night sessions. I've had plenty of success that hopefully can continue this year.

I'm in a very good shape. I ended the year in the best possible way, and continued that form in Adelaide. I like the way I played there. I beat some really good players, especially in the last few matches of the tournament.

I like my chances. I always like my chances. I train as hard as really anybody out there. There's a lot of youngsters now that are very hungry, that want to win. They want to take a scalp off you on the big stadium. I know that.

Experience of being in these kind of particular circumstances helps I think to have the right approach and do things in a proper way because I know when I'm healthy and playing my best, on this court I have chances really against anybody.

Q. Not playing as many weeks as you might have wanted to last year may be good for a 36-year-old body.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Don't remind me of that, please (laughter).

Q. Not competing as many weeks, is it also sort of a reverse on the body to compete again like that at that level?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, ideally you want to peak at the biggest tournaments. That's how I try to schedule my season. Of course, I talk with my coach and my team. We try to understand where it is that we wish to peak and where we wish to try to win the trophy.

I mean, I always give my best in every tournament, regardless of the category of the event. But I still understand that it takes some time, for example, on clay that is a very different surface, it requires more time to build your game, so to say the intensity, the level of tennis, to get to the desired level probably by Roland Garros. That's always a goal.

So at this stage of my career, of course the biggest one counts the most, the biggest events, and trying to stay healthy and mentally fresh and joyful on the court.

It's important, because at the end of the day it's a good balance between setting up the goals and trying to achieve those goals and being professional about it, but also the other side is why are you playing tennis. I choose to play, I really love playing tennis. It brings me wonderful emotions. Sometimes not.

It's a great way for me to learn more about myself, I think grow in life as a personality. Hopefully I'll also bring good emotions to people that watch me play live on the court or on TV.

Knowing all these things, I try to balance things out because it is a professional mission that I have, but at the same time it's also a personal mission. I try to enjoy every single moment.

Q. You spoke a little bit about the warm reception you felt from the fans since coming back to Australia. Could you tell us a little bit about what you've been hearing from other tennis players on your return here.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I have not really been asking around, What do you guys think of me coming back here (smiling)?

The ones I spoke to have been really supportive. No one has yet been negative on my return.