Novak Djokovic, titled this year in Australia and at Roland Garros, arrives in full confidence at Wimbledon where he hopes, he said on Saturday, to “ride the wave” to win a 20th Grand Slam title and thus equal the record co-owned by his rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
How do you feel about being able to win a 20th Grand Slam title?
“As I said before, Grand Slam tournaments are, at this stage of my career, my main motivation. I want to win as many as possible. I’m trying to be at my best for the Majors. Now, I have to adjust my schedule in order to have a good time with my family and be at my best in Grand Slam. This is what I have been doing for a year and a half and it is likely what I will do the rest of my career.
There, I am in full confidence after winning the first two Majors of the season and having played very well at Roland Garros. This tournament has asked a lot of me mentally, physically, emotionally. But I also came out with a lot of positive energy and confidence. It created like a wave that I’m trying to surf. I couldn’t afford to take advantage of this victory (in Paris) too much because four days after the title, I was training on grass courts. I hope to do as well at Wimbledon as in 2018 and 2019 (winner). I love playing here, it has always been the tournament of my dreams. I always get goosebumps when I step on these courts. “
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As the defending champion, you will be the first to play on the virgin grass of Center Court on Monday. What does it do to you?
“There are a lot of things unique to Wimbledon. One of them is the tradition of having the defending champion play first on Monday on Center Court, on still immaculate grass. And when you walk into this court, it’s a very different feeling compared to other Grand Slam tournaments, really. There is not the slightest advertisement, not the slightest sign, it’s all tennis, all attention is on the players and on the court. I find it fascinating, in the commercial and materialistic world we live in today, that Wimbledon manages to keep its culture and traditions. “
On Monday, your first opponent will be Jack Draper. Do you know it ?
” Not too much, no. I kinda saw him play at Queen’s where he beat Sinner. And since I trained with Sinner on Friday, I asked him a couple of questions about Draper’s play. I have to do my homework, talk to more players, watch videos of his most recent games. This first match can be very tricky against a player who will be supported by the public and who has nothing to lose. So I take it very seriously. “
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You are now aiming for a 20th major title, but also the Grand Slam, or even the Golden Slam (Grand Slam and Olympic gold medal in the same year). How do you deal with this situation?
“The hardest part is staying in the moment, not looking too far into what is possible. Of course, I understand that people like to debate who is the best, who will have the most titles, etc, etc … But me, when I enter a court, I try to lock myself in and d ‘exclude all distractions. Everyone has their own personal ways of focusing, of harnessing their energy for what is most important, which is the present moment. I have my own techniques and so far they work. “
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