INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 17, 2023

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

H. RUNE/N. Djokovic

6-2, 4-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Tough one today. It seems like he gets to every ball. What makes it so difficult to finish off the points against him?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I mean, slower conditions these days. I think this is probably the coldest and wettest tournament I've ever played here in Rome. I don't really recall so many days in a row raining.

Obviously in these kind of conditions, it's very difficult to get the ball past him. He's very, very fast, very quick. Great anticipation. Just a very talented, dynamic player, all-around player.

Yeah, he was just better. He played too good for me for most part of the match. I did have a bad start of the third set. I think that's where match kind of shifted to his side. He kept his nerves and deserved to win.

Q. Are you still confident for French?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes.

Q. Which tips would you like to give to Rune for his career?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I'm going to ask him tips. He beat me twice we played against each other, so... I have no tips for him. So far he's doing very well.

Q. Do you feel like you got enough out of this tournament to prepare for Paris, considering the conditions? What else do you need going into Paris?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Nothing. I mean, just training and getting ready for the most important tournament of the clay season for me.

I know I can always play better. Definitely am looking forward to working on various aspects of my game, of my body, hopefully getting myself in 100% shape. That's the goal.

I always like my chances in Grand Slams against anybody on any surface, best-of-five. Let's see how it goes.

Q. Do you think this is going to be the most open French Open of the past 20 years?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It depends if Nadal plays or not (smiling).

But next to him of course Alcaraz, Rune, these guys are right there in the contention, some of the biggest favorites to win the title.

Q. Speaking in general, tennis in general, do you think Rune is saying something new in looking for Paris or not?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I didn't understand that question. Sorry.

Q. New players, Rune... Alcaraz lost, Sinner lost, Medvedev coming. Looking for Paris, do you think something new?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Something new about what? I don't understand.

Q. New players, favorites.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I really didn't understand the question.

New players for Paris to win the title?

Q. Yes.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, obviously, a new generation is here already. I mean, Alcaraz is No. 1 in the world from Monday. Obviously he's playing amazing tennis. I think it's also good for our sport that we have new faces, new guys coming up. It's normal.

We've been saying this for years, that we can expect it to come, that moment to come when you have kind of shift of generations.

I'm personally still trying to hang in there with all of them. I'm happy with - of course, very happy with - my career so far. I still have the hunger to keep going. Let's see how far I'm going to play.

Q. You talked about the bad weather this week. Do you think it should be required to have a retractable roof when they expand the tournament to two weeks?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: That's always a debate for every tournament I guess. It's a huge investment. I don't know what the rules are here, whether they can build or not build something.

I heard that because of the monuments, protection of the site, anywhere in Rome, it's very difficult to get permits to do any kind of expansion. I don't know about that.

Look, as I said, it's not something that we've had in the past. We have maybe one or two days rain. Now it's been consistent rain for days and days. It's just one of these years you have to accept it. You can't influence that.