TENNIS WIMBLEDON 2014 – 2nd of July. N. Djokovic d. M. Cilic 6-1, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-2. An interview with Novak Djokovic
Q. What turned it around for you? How did you get back in the winning way?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Just held my composure in those moments when the match was going his way, especially when he won the third set. You know, obviously I was frustrated with the fact that I haven’t used the opportunities that were presented, and also the fact that I allowed him to come back into the match.
I mean, he did start playing more offense and playing better, but I thought that I allowed him to have this opportunity on the court.
Q. There was a moment in the fourth set in the changeover where you sit down and your eyes were closed. Were you visualizing or meditating, trying to calm yourself down?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, yes, obviously, you know, you go through the difficult moments, especially when you’re two sets to one down, playing quarters of Grand Slams. It gets very emotional. You’re fighting on the court as much as your opponent, and you try to just mentally be strong and find that inner strength that can help you in those particular moments.
That’s what helped me.
Q. You appeared to be distracted at times by the noise coming from outside. How significant was that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I think both of us, we thought it was too much in a way. But it is what it is. I mean, it’s kind of strange to feel so much noise coming from the Centre Court. I don’t know how come, because from the Centre you can’t hear and vice versa.
But the crowd gets into it. Today with him losing in straight sets, it was obviously a result that all stadium, even on Court 1, wanted to see. I said to the chair umpire, Let’s just stop the match, put it live on the big screen, and let’s watch it till they’re done. It’s going to be better for all of us.
Q. Tomorrow you have a day off. What have you planned, except from practicing and relaxing?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, I’m going to keep my routine, same things. Try to relax, do some things that I do usually on the days off.
Q. What is that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: That is my private thing. Can’t reveal too much.
Q. You’re going to be a father for the first time this year. How is the pregnancy going and how does this motivate you?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Very good. Thank you for asking. The date is coming closer. The stomach is growing. If you have kids, you know how that feels.
For us, it’s a new chapter of our lives. It’s a new experience. We’re full of joy. What can I say? It can only bring positive things to us. It’s the most beautiful news that I ever received when she told me she was pregnant.
We’re together almost nine years, and this is the crown of our relationship.
Q. You changed your shoes. Can you explain a little bit more about that. What was the problem and how did it help you?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I thought I was slipping, I was falling, and I wasn’t really finding the balance in the third. I don’t know if it was shoes or socks or whatever. It was very warm. I was sweating a lot, so I want to change it.
I had just a better grip. I had better movement. Maybe it was just mental, but anyway, it worked.
Q. The grass is supposed to be slower and bounces truer. We’ve had a record number of tiebreaks in the tournament, suggesting that breaking is not going on as much. What is your explanation for that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Grass is still the fastest surface we have in sport. If you are going to have tiebreak records anywhere, you’re going to have it here. Especially with guys like Isner or López or Raonic, Kyrgios, these big servers, big guys, Cilic.
It’s not easy to break them. They put a lot of pressure on your service games, as well. Your best chance is getting to a tiebreak.
Again, I would agree with the fact that we have more baseline rallies than we had maybe 20, 30 years ago looking at the grass at those times.
But I think it’s not a matter of grass. I think it’s a matter of tennis balls. I think they’re a bit slower, which suits the baseline players more I guess nowadays.
Q. So the serve should be slower, too?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, not if you’re 6’10”. It doesn’t matter. If you serve with a tomato, you’re going to ace it.
Q. How would you assess the match against Dimitrov next given the run he’s had on grass? Do you have any sympathy for Andy Murray being defending champion and how hard it is to, I suppose, keep winning at tournaments you’ve won before?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I understand him, of course. I was saying before here that he goes through immense pressure and expectations in Wimbledon because he’s somebody that everybody relies on and expects him to go far and win the trophy.
He has done that. I’m sure that he felt a huge relief.
But again, now he has faced another experience: to be defending champion for the first time at Wimbledon. It’s quite different. It’s another way of pressure that you feel.
So I understand what he goes through. But Dimitrov won in straight sets and he deserves respect for that. Of course, he must have played an incredible match. To beat Andy on grass is a very, very difficult challenge.
Q. Are you going to be wearing your lucky shoes against Grigor?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I have to think about that. If they’re lucky, if you say they’re lucky, I’ll wear them (smiling).
