THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 7, 2023

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/S. Wawrinka

6-3, 6-1, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Novak Djokovic.

Questions, please.

Q. How much did you enjoy that match, being out there with Stan today?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I enjoyed it for the first two sets. After that it was a little bit dramatic. I think I dropped my level a little bit. He raised his level. Crowd got into it.

I could feel the time ticking, as well, for the curfew (smiling). We both knew coming into the court that I guess the maximum we can play is three sets, so... If we were going to finish, one of us had to win in straight sets. I'm just happy it was me.

It all looked great after two sets. As I said, he raised his game. He's a multiple Grand Slam champion, someone that has been in these kind of occasions so many times. He has beaten me in two Grand Slam finals. So to say, he has a lot of experience playing in these circumstances. I knew that he's not going to give up just like that after second set.

He went to change. He came back as a different player. We went toe to toe. Yeah, I think it was fair to end up the match in a tiebreak.

Q. Usually like Mardy Fish or Andy Roddick, they get slimmer and more elastic. You've been known by your elasticity. You've gained weight.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Hard for me to get slimmer than I already am, or was a few years ago. I went through my phases where I was also very, very slim. Struggled with some problems with my stomach, et cetera, had to deal with that.

I do feel great. I think I have an optimal weight right now in terms of the body weight. That's I guess such a superficial thing. There's so many more aspects than just body weight that are factors that are more important. You need to combine it with being dynamic, powerful, flexible.

Tennis is a sport that is quite complex in this way. It requires a player to have really a great balance, an optimal balance, between all these traits, so to say, physical traits.

Then again, we are all different. We all have different body types. I always have worked a lot on my flexibility, since a young age. I was taught this was extremely important because that's going to give me longevity. Focusing a lot and doing a lot on prevention. Just before I get on the practice court, there's a lot of work that goes into it, a few hours of work before I actually get to the training court.

That helps me. It helps extend my career. It helps me still compete at the highest level. It helps me prevent any - God forbid - injuries or anything like that. It's kind of if you see other players at that age and stage, it's kind of expected to have a major injury later in your career just because of the wear and tear of the body.

Luckily for me, I've had only one significant injury that kept me out of the circuit for almost a year on and off with the surgery of the elbow. Other than that, there was some muscle tears and injuries, but generally I've kept healthy, considering the intensity of my career and the amount of matches I've played in the last 20 years.

Q. (Question about Marian Vijda and Novak's diet.)

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I'm not going to get into the diet. It's not the time, not the place at the moment. Marian Vijda was my tennis coach, not my nutritionist. Of course, he was trying to understand what will help me in any shape or form, from any point of view, so to say, whether it's on the court, off the court. We discussed that a lot.

But as I said, I went through my journey. Still I am going through journey because the bodies are changing constantly. We are all changing. I have to be able to adapt to a certain periods of different seasons, different needs of the body. Depending on whether you're preparing or you're in competition, there's a lot of details that it's hard to share right now.

I think I'm in a good place overall.

Q. I asked Pedro what he told you at the net. He said he told you this has been the best two hours of tennis in his life. In the interview he praised you so much. How do you assess this circumstance in such a competitive sport?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I saw what he said. I mean, I actually heard what he said on the net. I was very moved by that. Obviously very flattered that he felt those couple of hours were the best hours that he ever had on the tennis court.

Of course, it was something that was very nice to hear. Especially when it's coming from your colleague and your rival and somebody you're sharing the tennis circuit with. When they recognize you are trying to put an effort for them as well through PTPA, players organization, which I think he was referring to, what he was referring to, it's something is the best thing that I could hear, to be honest.

I don't really care much about what anybody else has to say except players because players know what PTPA and I have been trying to do for players in the 10-plus years. I'm really glad that was recognized.

Q. Your next opponent, you and other players described Hubert as one of the nicest players on the tour.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Absolutely.

Q. I'd like you to describe him more as an opponent. Would you agree it's better to play against him on any other surface than grass?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't know if I ever played him on grass, to be honest.

Q. Four years ago.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It was four years ago. Sorry.

I know that he -- exactly, you're right. I remember. It was a close match because he serves extremely powerful and good. He covers the court very well. He has very long arms. When he comes to the net, he has a very good feeling at the net. He closes the net very well.

He plays a lot of doubles as well. He's had some very good success in doubles. He's comfortable also to play from the back of the court defending. For a very tall guy he defends well, even slides. He comes in and covers the net very well.

Just overall very complete player. I don't see too many holes in his game really. So I know that's going to definitely be the toughest challenge for me of the tournament so far. He didn't drop a set so far in the tournament. I saw how he was playing. He's very comfortable playing on grass. He beat Federer here some years ago. He's a player that doesn't mind playing on a big stadium.

As you mentioned, super nice guy, someone that I really, really like off the court. It's going to be great battle. I look forward to that. I know I have to be at my best to win.