NITTO ATP FINALS

November 15, 2023

Novak Djokovic

Pala Alpitour,Torino

Press Conference

J. SINNER/N. Djokovic

7-5, 6-7, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: We'll go straight into questions.

Q. First loss in a very long time. What is it about Jannik do you think was different than the last time you played him? Do you think he's made a great deal of progress? How much did you contribute to your loss tonight?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I think last time we played was semis in Wimbledon. I won in straight sets, but it was very close match. Few points here and there decided every set.

Game-wise I think he was playing as well as he's playing today. Maybe serving better. But I think the main difference is that in the important points, he was going for it, he was more courageous.

Yeah, he deserved to win because in important moments I wasn't I guess aggressive enough, I wasn't decisive enough. I gave him opportunity to take the control over the points. Yeah, 5-All third set, 15-30, second serve, I was in the rally and should have stepped in and didn't, and he did.

You have to just congratulate him. He just played a fantastic match. That's what I told him at the net. I think in the most important moments, he played his best game and he absolutely deserved to win.

Q. We know well that you learn usually from your experiences on the court. It's still very fresh this loss, but what maybe can you do in the future, and maybe why not on this Sunday also against him?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I didn't understand the last comment.

Q. There is still a chance to play him.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, but... Very long way to that. Let's see if that happens.

What do I learn? I mean, obviously in these kind of matches, very few opportunities are presented. If you don't use them, then the other player will. That was the case basically.

I think I learned that in some moments I have to be a bit more decisive. I wasn't today. That's okay. Some you win, some you lose. Most of my career I was winning these kind of matches. Some I lost, like the one tonight.

I don't think I've done too many things wrong in terms of my game. He just was, yeah, more decisive and courageous in the moments when he needed to be. He made some amazing points, played exactly the shots he needed to play. You just have to put hat down.

Q. You have a lot of experience, but today you play not only against Sinner, you played also against the crowd. What do you think this moment?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I mean, it was expected. Obviously him being the only Italian in the tournament, playing in Italy, there was a big hype, a big excitement for him to play in front of his home crowd. He's in a great form. It's normal that crowd wanted him to win.

Q. You're No. 1 in the world. Obviously you are the man to beat. When you have these young guns like Carlos or Holger or Jannik on the other side of the net, it seems like they are over-motivated to beat you. Do you feel that?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It's normal. I mean, I don't think there is anything strange about that. It's normal they want to beat me. I was experiencing for already these kind of feelings that every single player is motivated even more to beat me anywhere I play in the world. That's okay. It's absolutely normal. They want to take the scalp. Jannik did that tonight.

It's normal to lose some of the matches like this, but I have to be content with the fight, fighting spirit. I managed to make a comeback from set down, break down in the third set. Played in really challenging and difficult conditions on the court today.

I'm proud of the fight that I put in. It just wasn't enough for the win.