ROLAND GARROS

May 30, 2024

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/R. Carballes Baena

6-4, 6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Congratulations, Novak. Can I just clarify in the first set you had a quick chat with the umpire about a fan. What was going on from your point of view, please?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: He shouted actually a few words during the rally. I mean, when Carballes Baena made a dropshot and as I was running -- he was there in the first row -- and he started from the beginning of the match, he went on several times, which was fine, he was supporting my opponent, but I thought that this was a bit of a hindrance as he was so close and then, you know, as I was about to hit the ball, he was shouting.

So that's what I asked the chair umpire, but he explained that he cannot call that a hindrance. That's it. Very simple.

Q. Just on that point, the crowd has been a topic of conversation. We had the Goffin and then last night Iga addressed them about the same thing that you had. Then we had Amelie saying no booze in the stands today.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Nobu (smiling)?

Q. No booze. (Laughter.) So what's your view on the fans here?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Look, they are very passionate fans, you know. At times they are not easy, and I have been having some love affairs with the fans here, and also some tough matches, some tough seasons. I have experienced both sides. Obviously you always want to be the one that they support or at least have kind of a neutral atmosphere on the court, but it's not possible always for that to happen.

And in particular, cases when you're playing against a French player like Goffin did or like I did first round, that's where you have to just be aware that you're going to into a big battle. Not just with your opponent.

But in a sense, that's normal, because they of course do everything to support their own home favorites, their own countrymen and countrywoman to win, particularly if they are underdogs, you know.

I know that in the outside courts I saw a little bit of highlights of Goffin's match and that they can be even more loud and inappropriate at times.

It's part of what we do, you know. It's part of sports. We are different from football or basketball, but at the same time, you know, you kind of want a good atmosphere, right, as a player. Like, from my standpoint, I really want to see fans cheering and I want to see that atmosphere, you know.

Wimbledon is different. Obviously Wimbledon has its history and culture and tradition. But, you know, most of the other tournaments you really want to see fans cheering and chanting songs and stuff, you know, for the player or country. I think that's beautiful to experience.

You know, it's a fine line when that line is passed, I guess, and when it starts becoming disrespectful towards the player. In those instances, I understand that, you know, a player like Goffin the other day reacted, because I have experienced quite a few times those particular situations.

So I support a player standing up, you know, against people who are disrespecting and heckling him. It's not always possible, you know, to tolerate. Of course it's very much needed, because you don't want to be spending unnecessary energy elsewhere. But, you know, at times you just have to face somebody that is heckling you. That's all you can do (smiling).

Q. Bigger picture, two matches in, and overall this year, how many matches like this do you need to clock in and say mentally but also from your strokes, I'm this guy who won all these slams and I can win a slam again?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, there is always that kind of conviction and belief inside of me I can win a slam. That's the reason why I'm still competing at this level. That's why I'm here. At this age I wouldn't really be competing at the slams and continuing to play professional tennis if I didn't believe that I possess quality to go all the way to the title match.

So, you know, I still of course sense that I have the game and I have the goods to go far. But as I said in the press conference prior to the start of the tournament, I don't want to get too much ahead of the present day, because I haven't had really a great form as a lead-up to Roland Garros.

So I have to keep my expectations a bit lower. Of course, hopes and beliefs and convictions are always there, always high, and I always aim for the highest star, so to say. But I'm being very conscious of the present moment and what needs to be done on a daily basis to build my form as the tournament progresses hopefully and then peak at the right time when it matters the most.

Q. Can I just ask you about Rafa. Obviously you have played him so many times. What for you was kind of the peak Nadal?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I have played him so many times that I think he peaked more than few times against me in Roland Garros particularly. You know, I have played him here from first time I think it was back in 2006 or '07 and then the last time we played in -- what was it? -- 2022.

Yeah, I have experienced firsthand, so to say, from the court his evolution as a player. I actually think that he has improved his backhand as he was getting older. He was probably conscious of, you know, physical struggles that he had, and he had to be more aggressive on the court.

So he was, you know, still topspinning the forehand better than anybody has ever done it, and he still kept that incredible defense and offense in the forehand, but I think with backhand he was just able to handle the high balls to his backhand better than he was maybe at the beginning of our encounters.

He was probably moving better and had better physical condition in the first ten years of his career here in Roland Garros, but then after that he had to adjust. I think he did very well with the backhand particularly. I found his backhand very, very, very consistent and really a big weapon. The kind of pattern against Rafa was kind of always trying to find that backhand, get him out of the court and open up the forehand.

But, you know, then he improved so much on that backhand and court positioning that it became, you know, impossible to find kind of a weak spot from the baseline, you know, to hurt him.

So we had some really amazing encounters over the years, but since we are here in Roland Garros on clay, a couple of matches that really stand out that we played here against each other were that five-setter that he won, I think it was 9-7 in the fifth semifinals in 2012 or '13.

Then, you know, he didn't play his best but I played probably the best match I ever played against him on clay here when I won against him in quarters the year I lost in the finals, 2015.

And then the last couple of matches here, really. The one when I won 2021, we played again, a very long semifinals, deep in the night. Same thing the year after when he won, he beat me in quarters, also night session, 7-6 in the fourth.

Yeah, I mean, I've said it many times. He has been the greatest rival that I ever had. Matches against him on clay have frustrated me so much in my career (smiling), but they also made me a better player, made me understand what it takes, you know, really, to try to surpass him, try to win at least once or twice on Roland Garros.

I said it on the court the other day. It's the highest mountain to climb, really, always for me to win Roland Garros, particularly because of Nadal, because I always have to win against him in order to get to the title.

So, yeah, we had some really fantastic matches here.

Q. Your motivation when you're at Grand Slams seems as strong as ever. I just wanted to know what it's like when it's down weeks when you're training sometimes. Does the motivation still burn as strong as ever? Are there ever moments where you're struggling a little to keep it going?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I've said it recently that I did struggle with motivation on a constant basis, so to say, to always have that motivation I've had for more than 20-whatever years of professional tennis.

I knew the moment is going to arrive sooner or later where I'm just going to, you know, have off weeks, so to say, where I'm struggling to push myself or, yeah, deliver what needs to be delivered on the court.

But, you know, in terms of my commitment to the practice weeks and practice sessions, that hasn't gone down, to be honest. I really, you know, whatever my team and I agree on and whatever they want me to do, I do it. I show up every day on practice courts and gym and whatever I need to do fitness-wise, mental preparation, whatever it takes.

But it's true that, you know, with my mind I'm focused pretty much solely on Grand Slams and Olympics this year, and playing for my country, really. That's something that really drives me the most, so to say, today. The other tournaments, of course, it's not maybe sounding right, but these are huge tournaments, very important tournaments, tournaments that are part of the ATP Tour that I was part of and still am part of, of course, so many years, and have been integral part of my career and my success. But yeah, it is becoming a little bit more challenging for me to push myself every single tournament to be really at the top.