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WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 16, 2011

Novak Djokovic

CINCINNATI, OHIO

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I know you get these questions a lot nowadays, but talk your impressive season and how you've been able to stay so strong throughout.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, yes, the season was more than great; it was fantastic, and still is going. I have no intention of stopping here. I still have a great desire and great motivation to win every single match that I play on.
I think just keeping the things very simple in my daily routine helped me a lot to come back, even though after I had a long rest, come back very strong.
And I played a really, really good tournament in MontrÃ©al.

Q. If you could pick one aspect of the setting of the table last year coming into this year, whether it's the US Open final or the Davis Cup Championship, what would that be?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Look, there were a couple of matches that helped me to get to where I am. Probably Davis Cup was one of them, and the US Open tournament overall.
But just, you know, in the second part of 2010 I felt that I'm getting my game back. I felt that I'm just feeling more comfortable on the court, I have more self-belief, and I just know what to do.
It was a matter of time when I got all things together for me mentally and physically. That was the case, you know.
Really, since the beginning of the year I have been really sharp on the court, believing that I can win the big matches, and using the experience that I had in the last three, four years.

Q. You've been beating Nadal like a drum this year. What's your secret against him specifically? Because he was No. 1 before you. How have you been doing it so consistently to beat him on so many different surfaces?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, obviously with a different surface the different adjustment comes into play and different tactics. But we played so many matches against each other that we know each other really well. There is no secrets.
Against the top players at the top level, it always comes down to a very few points that decide the winner. But that's why I think in the end this is a very mental sport. You know, that's why you need to have a lot of self-belief on the court, that you know that you have quality to beat the best players in the world.
That was the case, more or less. There were matches when I played against him this summer on clay when I wasn't feeling physically great, but I was just stepping in and believing that my shots are good enough to win against him.
You know, I think that that brought me the success.

Q. What do you think separates the very good returner of serve from the great returners of serve? What do the great ones do or what's the key?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I don't think it's only the return we are talking about here. It's what comes after that. I think how you, you know, position yourself after a return for the point. I think that's crucial.
Again, we're all great tennis players. I think there is not much difference game-wise between the top players and maybe the top 20, top 30 players in the world. We are all working very hard on the court, spending a lot hours and putting a lot work into tennis and into physical condition and everything.
But in the end, it's the ability to cope with the pressure, ability to, you know, sustain that confidence and to go for the shots when you need to.
It's experience in the end. If you play many matches, many big matches on a big stage, then you somehow feel after a while comfortable when you step on the big courts.

Q. After you won Wimbledon this year, there was talk on ESPN about the gluten free diet. Talk about your off-court eating habits and how that helps you.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It helped. You know, I changed my diet, and...

Q. From what to what?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Gluten free officially.

Q. Yeah, but I mean from what...
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I cannot tell you everything. There are things that I keep for myself. How can I explain this simply? Gluten free pasta, rice.
The way people were assessing that was as that diet was the major impact on my success, and it wasn't.
It was a change that helped me, but I think that just the overall assessment of my success is my agility as a player, as a person. I got stronger in a couple elements in my game and I just got better.
I think that was the whole key.

Q. You've defeated Mardy Fish. He's come a long way, too. Talk about what you think of him right now.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think he's playing the best tennis of his career, to be honest. I have been competing with him for the last couple of years, and, you know, he moves much better on the court nowadays and he's fitter.
I think mentally he just believes it more against top players. He was obviously unfortunate in our last match couple days ago in MontrÃ©al, you know, where it was a very even match, three sets.
But he's right up there, you know. He's a top 10 player of the world, he's the top American, and he deserves to be there.

Q. What's the funnest or most interesting thing you've got to do since became No. 1?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I didn't have any funny, crazy things that I've done. It was more necessary for me to have a good rest and good holiday.
So after Wimbledon I went for Davis Cup; that was wild. But after the Davis Cup I took some time off, about two weeks, and then I started preparing.
You see, it hasn't changed much for me. My approach is really the same. My routine, you know, preparation for tournaments, practices, nothing has changed really. It's all the same.
I think that helps me to, you know, stay where I am, to stay grounded, to stay focused, and to stay determined and professional.
I think it's the only way for me to be able to hold this place where I am. There is a lot of temptations, of course. There is more attention from the world of sport towards me and my career.
But I think with a really good group of people that is around me, I'm handling it well.

Q. Talk about your airplane ad a little bit.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Airplane?

Q. Yeah.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I wouldn't recommend anybody to do that really. It was a crazy experience. I did it five months ago, though.

Q. Talk about changes that you made to your serve. Roddick thinks you've improved that a lot in recent years. You lost to him last year here.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, well, I agree. You know, that's one of the shots in my game that I have improved by a small percentage, but still it helped me a lot to get to where I am.
But it was the hard work that I put in over this period of let's say 12 to 15 months in which I struggled a lot with that stroke in my game. Since I changed the racquet, I had some difficulties to get to the old habit of serving to the old movement. I changed completely the technique for no reason. Once it gets into your head, it's really hard to get it back.
But I was patient. I was patient and working with my coach on the mental side and putting a lot hours in on the court, and here it goes. I think it's really helpful at this level on any surface to get some free points on the serve.

Q. You recently were awarded a very prestigious religious award. How has your faith played a role in your life?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Interesting question. I think it plays an important role in my life, not just in tennis. You know, faith is something that you always to have keep, it always has to be present, regardless in what situation and condition you are.
You know, there were times that I was struggling mentally and emotionally, especially about a year, year and a half ago, and I really didn't know if I can make it, if I can get it No. 1.
You know, there was a lot of things that were affecting my game and affecting my career that I was trying to clear up, and I did. I did because I had faith in myself and I fought my way through.

Q. The more you win, seems the more crowded your player' box gets, especially at Grand Slam events. Do you find you're actually having to turn people away? How do you handle all of those people just wanting to watch your matches, not necessarily from your family, from the outside?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes, well, you know, it's not easy to handle, definitely, that many people. But, look, it was first Wimbledon finals; last year was US Open final. So I did have lots of people that wanted to come, friends of the family and lots of people who want to support.
Of course it's always nice when you have a big support, but sometimes it gets too crowded. So I ensure you I will not have that many people ever again.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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