Novak Djoković

[Alan]

Novak Djokovic keeping an eye on history


Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot against Conor Niland of Ireland.

NOVAK Djokovic will ignore talk of super diets and even a bizarre flirtation with a hyperbaric chamber, convinced that he can match John McEnroe's 1984 record of 82 wins against just three defeats.

The world No.1 took his season tally to 58 wins against just two losses when Irish qualifier Conor Niland's thankless task was rendered mission impossible by food poisoning in the US Open first round on Tuesday.

Djokovic, whose only losses in 2011 came against Roger Federer in the French Open semi-finals and in the Cincinnati Masters final when a right shoulder injury handed Andy Murray victory, knows that history is within his grasp.

"Sounds big," said the 24-year-old. "This year has been tremendous and there has been a lot of talk about history making and this incredible run."

Djokovic has won nine titles this year including the Australian Open and Wimbledon crowns, taking Rafael Nadal's top ranking in the process.

Twice a runner-up at the US Open, including last year to Nadal, the Serb is looking to become just the sixth man to win three grand slam titles in the same year in the Open era.

He is already the first man to win five Masters events in the same year after defeating Mardy Fish in the final at Montreal.

His other Masters titles came at Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome, defeating Nadal on all four occasions.

Furthermore, his 43-match winning streak, which stretched from Serbia's Davis Cup triumph in December to his loss to Federer in Paris in June, was the third longest in history, just three behind Guillermo Vilas's all-time mark.

"After I won Wimbledon I took some time off and I got to think about everything that I've been through," said Djokovic.

"And to be honest with you, I even have more motivation to play and to win more grand slams, now more than ever that I know that I can actually perform equally well on any surface."

Much has been made of Djokovic's surge to the top of the world since giving up bread and pasta after developing an allergy to gluten.

But he refuses to reveal what he eats instead and has shown a similar reluctance to expand upon his use of a hyperbaric chamber.

"I have used it a couple of times just to test it and see how it is, and since then I haven't used it at all this year. It doesn't have any influence on my success that I had in last 10 months," said the Serb.

"There is nothing controversial. As I was aware, many successful athletes have been using that in the past."

Djokovic needed just 44 minutes to claim a 6-0 5-1 victory over Niland on Tuesday.
Niland, the world 197 and making his Flushing Meadows debut, had suffered food poisoning since Monday.

He would have felt even worse when he was broken three times in the opening set which lasted just 21 minutes and where he won only eight points.

The 29-year-old Irishman received medical attention at the changeover but he was quickly a game down in the second set.
He then won applause from a sympathetic crowd when he finally opened his account for 1-1.

But Djokovic restored the balance of power by racing to a 4-1 lead.

One game later, Djokovic was able to celebrate victory when the stricken Niland, having won just 14 points in the tie, called it quits.
Niland said he had felt unwell since Monday morning.

"We're saying maybe a salad or a pork dish, but we're not naming the restaurant," he said.

"I haven't been able to keep anything down. That's why there was no strength in my legs. Believe me, it has been a tough couple of days."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tenni ... 6126207898

[Samurray]

Djokovic routs Berlocq at US Open



Instead of a third bagel, Novak Djokovic opted for dessert.

The top seed at the U.S. Open punctuated his 6-0, 6-0, 6-2 victory over Argentina's Carlos Berlocq on Thursday with his sweetest shot of the night - a backward, between-the-legs trick shot that veered low and perfect over the net. Berlocq couldn't handle it and Djokovic, always the entertainer, cupped his hand to his ear to bask in the applause.

"I played good tennis, tried to win,'' Djokovic said. "On the other hand, we tried to engage the crowd. It was nice. A lot of entertainment. Long, attractive points, the through-the-leg shot and things like that. It was a really, really good third set.''

Entertaining, indeed, though there really was only one dramatic story line on this night: Whether Berlocq, ranked 74th, would get a game. Djokovic won the first 14 and appeared on track to become the first man to win a U.S. Open match at love, love and love since Ivan Lendl in 1987.

But trailing 2-0 in the third, Berlocq caught a net cord to get a pair of break points against Djokovic. After Djokovic saved the first, Berlocq hit a running backhand winner to get on the board - and get a standing ovation from the fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

They saw very little competitive tennis on this day. Five matches on the U.S. Open show court were won by a combined score of 72 games to 14.

"One of the guys, on the way out, said, `Listen, I paid 100 bucks and you're only staying for an hour and a half on the court. Give me something else. Give me a racket or something,''' Djokovic said.

But nobody can say these two didn't put on a show. Leading 1-0 in the third set, Djokovic and Berlocq exchanged six straight volleys; Djokovic won the exchange to close out the game, then celebrated by high-fiving a fan.

Earlier, trailing 5-0 in the second and with no real answers for his opponent, Berlocq tried his own `tweener,' but his between-the-legs shot hit the bottom of the net. The crowd cheered wildly anyway.

"All I can do is give my best,'' Berlocq said. "This guy is a player from another planet. So all I can do is try my hardest.''

Indeed, Djokovic is having an unheard-of season and so far, he's been piling on at Flushing Meadows. He has lost a total of three games over his first two matches at the year's final Grand Slam. His first opponent retired while trailing 6-0, 5-1.

Djokovic improved to 59-2 on the season and moved a win closer to his third major title of the year - a title that would cement this as one of the best seasons in tennis history.

Next up for Djokovic - a third-round match against Russia's Nikolay Davydenko, a four-time Grand Slam semifinalist, including twice at the U.S. Open.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/t ... index.html

[Ranger]

Konferencja po zwycięstwie w drugiej rundzie

Spoiler:

An Interview With: Novak Djokovic



Q. How hard was this butchery that you did on the court?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Butchery? That's a funny expression. First two sets were ideal. You know, I could not play better. I mean, I was getting a lot of balls back. I was ending the points when I needed to. I was making a lot of winners. My serve was okay. Return was great. I felt fantastic on the court. And there is not much I can say when everything seems fun and seems enjoyable when you're playing such good tennis.

Q. Did you start thinking about setting a record or winning love, love, and love?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: You know, I was really trying to focus on each game, really not thinking about the end of the match. But the crowd got involved in the third set. It was great. I mean, we needed that. We needed that in the match. He started playing better. He started making some winners, some good shots. And the crowd felt that, you know, that's the point of the match where they should get energized and get involved in the match. For us players, was more interesting.

Q. On any level do you have remorse or empathy or sympathy for an opponent when it's clear you're well in charge? Do you allow those feelings?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, look, you know, we are professionals on the court. We need to do our job obviously, to win. Regardless of who is across the net. I know Carlos off the court. He is a nice guy. Today on the court I had answer for every shot. I mean, I played great. You know, I felt a little bit for him, you know, in a certain stage of the match in the third set where he was trying really hard, you know, to get back into the match. I have to give him credit for fighting. Obviously I was trying to play my best, and I did. On the other hand he has done his best I think at that certain point. And, yeah, that was the whole thing.

Q. Do you feel at all that the fans were getting short changed? The first match was so short.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: One of the guys actually on the way out, he said, Hey, listen, I paid 100 bucks. You're staying an hour and a half on the court. That's a lot to pay for a ticket. Give me something so I get back home with a happy face. Give me a racquet or something (laughter). I played good tennis. Obviously I wanted to win. But on the other hand we all try to engage the crowd. I think the crowd got engaged in the third set. It was nice. It was a lot of entertainment kind of long and attractive points, the through the leg shot, things like that. He tried to get the crowd on his side, and he did. It was a really good third set.

Q. You talked about how well you played, particularly in the first two sets. Can you describe what it feels like to reach a moment of almost feeling like you're playing perfectly.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I have been playing this well for a while this year. I've been playing some matches where I felt that I, you know, could not miss the ball. I tell you, as a tennis player, as any athlete, when you're playing perfectly, everything seems so good and you're so happy, you know, because that's exactly where you want your game to be, you know, at the top, at the highest possible level. You know, we're working hard each day. This is a tournament definitely where I want to perform my best. So I'm not underestimating any opponents. I'm taking seriously every single match I play on, even though I'm expected to win most of the matches, especially in the opening rounds. But, you know, I try not to get relaxed. I try to get my job done as quickly as possible and save the energy for upcoming challenges.

Q. Could you look ahead to your third round match.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, it's Davydenko. It's been a while on the ATP Tour. He's been a top 5 player for a couple years. I think he's underrated, one of those players that the people are not talking about too much. You know, he deserves to get more credit than he really does. He's really a good player. He won many titles in his career. He was in the last four of the major a couple of times. He won against all the top players. So, you know, he definitely cannot be underestimated. If he is on the roll, if he feels the ball well, he can be very dangerous because he plays very fast. But, you know, if I continue on playing this way, I'm confident that I have a good chance.

Q. You, Mardy, Roger, Tsonga all won today under two hours, not real competitive. Does that surprise you in the second round of a major? Is it how much better you guys are than the rest?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Look, I cannot speak in their names because I don't know how they felt. Look, we top players are expected to win the opening rounds quite comfortably. Dropping a set, you know, is not something that the people like to see with us, with our matches. But, you know, I think all the top players present at this moment are in really good shape. As you mentioned, Roger, Rafa. Mardy is having a great summer. It's going to be really interesting tournament, I think, as the weeks go on.

Q. Do you prefer the short matches or a larger match where you get to hit more balls and more competitive?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I've played really a lot of matches this year, so I don't think I lack any time on the court. I just like the matches going this way.

Q. You said you know Carlos, are friendly with him, said he's a nice guy. If you were out there against somebody you didn't like, somebody you didn't think was a nice guy...

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I would play the same. Doesn't really matter who is across the net. You always want to win.

Źródło: http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interv ... 56225.html

[Ranger]

Djokovic Beats Davydenko For 60th Win



World No. 1 Novak Djokovic claimed his 60th match win of the season on Saturday night as he dismissed Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the US Open fourth round in New York.

Djokovic has left the rest of the tour trailing in his wake in 2011, taking just nine months to compile a 60-2 match record, including nine tour-level titles. His only two defeats this season came to Roger Federer in the Roland Garros semi-finals and to Andy Murray in the Cincinnati final. Rafael Nadal has been the Serb’s closest contender, currently commanding a 55-10 mark.

The 24-year-old Djokovic is bidding to win the US Open title for the first time and, in doing so, become the sixth man in the Open Era to win three major titles in the same season, having been victorious at the Australian Open (d. Murray) and Wimbledon (d. Nadal). He is a two-time runner-up in New York, losing out to Federer in 2007 and to Na
dal last year.

Over the past three years, Djokovic and Davydenko have contested some memorable matches, none more so that in the 2009 Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai semi-finals, when Davydenko prevailed in a third-set tie-break. Times have changed, though. While Djokovic has catapulted to the top of the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings, former World No. 3 Davydenko has plummeted to No. 39, suffering a loss of form after a wrist injury hindered him last season.

Davydenko showed glimpses of the form that once took him to US Open semi-finals in 2006 and 2007, but could not consistently match Djokovic from the baseline. Djokovic squandered an early break advantage in the first set, but won the final two games from 4-3 to take the opener.

It took the Serbian eight break points before he finally broke down Davydenko’s defences in the second set, assuming a 4-3 lead as the Russian hooked a forehand wide. Having been hampered by a first-serve percentage of 41 per cent throughout the second set, Djokovic found four telling first serves when he needed them to close out the two-set lead.

There was less resistance from the 30-year-old Davydenko in the third set and Djokovic romped towards the finish line with two breaks of serve. He improved to a 5-2 lead in their FedEx ATP Head2Head.

"I had some ups and downs in my match today," admitted Djokovic. "But it's the first test I've had this tournament and it was expected. I was aware of his quality. Davydenko is a great player; he knows how to play majors. He went out there and played his game, very aggressive. I think I was a little bit too defensive at the start and that's why I was missing a lot of balls from the forehand side. But when I needed to adjust I did and I got crucial breaks each set. The third set was better."

Next up for Djokovic is a first-time meeting with Ukrainian No. 22 seed Alexandr Dolgopolov, who beat Croatian Ivo Karlovic 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4, 6-4. Both players struck 22 aces each, but Dolgopolov hit 59 winners to Karlovic's 45 and converted four more break point opportunities.

"He's had the best year and a half of his career," said Djokovic of breakthrough Australian Open quarter-finalist Dolgopolov. "I think hard court is his preferred surface. He plays aggressively and has a pretty big serve. He's a tough player, but we are in the second week and we are expecting tough matches."

Źródło: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... -Wins.aspx

[Ranger]

Konferencja prasowa po zwycięstwie w trzeciej rundzie Us Open:

Spoiler:

An Interview With: Novak Djokovic

Q. Was it hard to get into the rhythm against him at first?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I had some ups and downs in my match today. But, okay, look, it's the first test I think I had this tournament, and it was expected. I was aware of his qualities. You know, Davydenko is a great player. You know, he's been around for many years. He knows how to play on this stadium. He knows how to play majors. He went out there and played his game, very aggressive. I think I was a little too defensive at the start. That's why I was missing balls from the forehand side. But when I needed to adjust, I did. Crucial breaks each set. The third one was better.

Q. You play so well on the big points. Is that something that's come over the last year or so?NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It comes with experience. You know, it comes with time. It's not something that you can be born with, you know. It's not a talent. It's just, you know, knowledge, experience playing many matches, knowing what to do at a certain moment. Of course, your tactics change depending on the player you play against. But more or less, you know, you need to be mentally there, focused. You know, there is not much difference at this stage, at this level.

Q. Are you able or interested in watching much of the men's tennis this week? If so, has anybody jumped out at you as being at an interesting point in their career?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I watch. I watch, definitely. I watch matches on my days off, mostly because I have more time. You know, it's part of my job, I guess, as well. I enjoy it, to be honest. I enjoy watching mostly men's matches. There has been some exciting matches to watch. But I think more exciting ones are about to come because we're coming into the second week and I think top players are playing against each other, so it's going to be good to see, interesting to see.

Q. Out of what you've seen of the guys you watched, is it what you've expected or is anybody off the charts?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, it's more or less what I expected. To be honest, most of the top players are through.

Q. You practiced with Jack Sock and maybe a little bit this year. What's his potential?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I didn't see that much of last night's match. You know, he definitely has potential. He has a big serve. He moves around well. He's very talented player. But it's just what we talked about now: that experience, that's what he needs to play. Andy obviously is a player who has been top 10 for many, many years, and he won majors, he was No. 1 of the world, and he feels at home playing here at center court night session. For Jack it was the first time, so I guess that was the difference.

Q. When you're watching a match, somebody else's match, how much are you taking mental notes, studying, thinking ahead if you play these guys?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: To be honest, I like to think about my next opponent, you know, mostly. But I do watch all the top guys. I watch their matches. You know, I do analyze their games, as well, see how they're playing. You know, mostly that's a job of my coach, to take notes, but I do take mental notes, if you want to call them.

Q. So what mental notes do you have on your next opponent?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I haven't seen him play, to be honest, this tournament. But I know him from before. And he's somebody that has the best year, year and a half of his career. Last year and a half he's been playing well. I think hard courts is his preferred surface. He's very aggressive. He's moving quite lightly all over the court. He has a pretty big serve, a good forehand, mixing up the pace. He's a tough player. Played quarters in Australia. Look, now we are in the second week and we are expecting tough matches.

Q. You danced after the match.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: You liked it?

Q. Does that dance have a name?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, it's not like Petko dance. Petko has already marked her dance. I have to invent a name for mine.

Q. You danced on the Jay Leno show?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: That's a Serbian dance called Kolo. Have you heard (smiling)?

Q. Did you see the movie Saturday Night Fever and know the songs?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I've seen some. I didn't know what I was doing really. I was just moving all over. But that guy was great. They caught him a couple of times on the TV.

Q. You notice that stuff during a match?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, you do. It's so much noise that you kind of sneak peek at the big screen. He had a 'I love New York' shirt. If my coach hears about this, he's being to be, What are you doing on the court?

Q. Last year you played a match where it wasn't a dancing person that caught your eye but people scuffling in the stands.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I remember.

Q. Can you talk about how do the crowds here compare to the other slams, and have you had any experiences this year other than the disgruntled fan asking for something for you since you only played a 90 minute match?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Look, you know, you travel around the world and you meet different kind of people. I guess it all depends where you are for the moment, the match, the day. But, you know, I try to always bring the positive energy, you know, to the people 'cause I know they paying tickets to come and watch all of us. So you need to give them something in return. Obviously, you're playing your best, playing tennis. But still it's nice to have some interaction with your fans. It's really important. So I'm trying to do that. But New York crowd, especially in the night matches, is very special. You know, they really get involved. They have a lot of fun. They're very loud. A lot of music in the changeovers. It's different from other Grand Slams. I think every Grand Slam has something special about it. You know, Wimbledon is very quiet, all white. Here it's all about entertainment. I guess it just depends where you are.

Q. What have you thought of Janko's progress? He's deeper than he's ever been here.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Congratulations to Janko. He's been playing well lately, definitely. I think I noticed the difference in his mental approach. You know, he always had the game. I just think now he believes he can win against top guys, that he can go far in the tournaments, in the Grand Slams. Now he has a big chance. Playing Ferrero now. So he has a big chance to reach quarters. He's fit. He was struggling a lot with injuries. He was struggling a lot with injuries. But more with himself I think mentally. As I said, it was a process for him, learning. And now I think he's playing best tennis of his life.

Q. He said he wasn't nearly as serious about the game as you have been always, but he took a page from your book. Did you ever talk about it?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, we did. We talk a lot, you know, because they're my best friends on the tour, one of my best friends in life as well. I spend so much time with Janko, Nenad and Viktor. We've been through some really best moments in our careers, winning Davis Cups. Every time we go to the Davis Cup, we are very much looking forward to that week. So we do spend a lot of time talking, trying to help each other. I think we all do well.

Q. Did you have to shake him up or did he come to you?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, I mean, I don't know exactly who comes to who. We just start the subject, we start talking about it. I share my thoughts, my experiences. They share theirs. You can always learn. You can always learn regardless who it is. Everybody has a different way in tennis, different lives, different career. So it's important to always be open for suggestions.

Q. This is looking a bit ahead, but I'm wondering in the scope of your goals and ambitions, where is the Olympics, particularly 2012 at Wimbledon?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It's a big goal. There is still quite a lot of time up to Olympics. But still, you know, I do think about Olympics. I'm really looking forward to it. I had this privilege to be part of the Serbian Olympic team in Beijing, and I had a bronze medal from that competition. It was incredible experience, like nothing else. Only thing that I'm sad about is that tennis tournament goes only for a week. So we don't get to stay that much. But the whole atmosphere, you know, everything about it, the whole world of sport, not just the sport, the whole world is looking at the Olympic Games for those couple weeks. Wow, it's just different. You know, you represent your country. You have the national colors. It's beautiful competition.

Q. The fact that this one will be at the All England Club, does that elevate it in your mind?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it helps. It helps that I won Wimbledon this year is definitely helping for Olympics.

Q. Around this complex, Roger and Rafael Nadal have their own store, Andy Roddick has a huge picture over the Lacoste store. You're not quite as visible despite being the No. 1 player. Do you care about that at all?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I think I have to talk with my sponsors about it (smiling). But, look, you know, I care mostly about obviously the game, to win on the court, and everything else I leave to the people who are responsible for that.

Q. You're the most popular player this year. More popularity means more trouble. Do you feel the same way as that saying says?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I would just add, you know, depends how you accept it. Again, depends how you use your experience being around the tour and how to handle this popularity. Of course, there is a lot of temptations. There is everyday situations that you can easily get carried away by those. But it's important to keep the things very simple. That's what I do. I know that with success there's a lot of attention, obviously.

Q. Did you learn some of that? Did you watch how Roger and Rafa behaved?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, sure, sure. They are great examples. I mean, as I said, I've always been very open to learn. I know that I can improve as a player, as a person each day of my life. It's important to always accept the advice, accept the suggestions. Roger and Rafa are big champions on and off the court, so they're great examples to, you know, me as well for the situation where I'm in now.

Źródło: http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interv ... 00394.html

[DUN I LOVE]

Czy mógłby ktoś potwierdzić (bądź zaprzeczyć), że Novak planuje we wrześniu ślub z Jeleną?

[jaccol55]

Czy mógłby ktoś potwierdzić (bądź zaprzeczyć), że Novak planuje we wrześniu ślub z Jeleną?

Podpuszczasz?

[DUN I LOVE]

W temacie Novaka na RF Forum ktoś podał taką informację.

[ginny]

http://www.eurosport.pl/tenis/us-open-5 ... tory.shtml

Z tego newsa wynika, że bierze ślub

[Ranger]

Tak, a jego świadkiem ma być Andy Murray .

Konferencja prasowa po awansie do ćwierćfinału Us Open 2011:

Spoiler:

An Interview With: Novak Djokovic
Q. You went through six set points in that crazy tiebreaker. How was it for you?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it was an interesting first set. I think it was exciting for the crowd to watch because it was very close. But I think it was game wise an ugly first set because I wasn't happy with the way I played. You know, he was changing pace a lot. He was always sending me a different ball. It was really hard for me to adjust to it because of the conditions that we played in. So that's why it was crucial for me to win the first set. You know, after I felt a bit more relaxed and I served well when I needed to, you know, played okay, played enough to win.

Q. On the first set, the tiebreak, do you attribute winning that more to your physical strength or your mental strength?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I think it's combination of both. But in the end it was more mental just to hang in there, you know, try to play right shots at the right time. This is one of the longest tiebreaks I ever played. It was certainly exciting to be part of it. But, you know, I knew that I need to win that set. Yeah, I had a lot of opportunities. I missed a lot of easy balls. I think I wasn't moving well at the start. But, you know, on the brighter side, I lift up my level better in next two sets.

Q. Is it difficult to play slice backhand against Dolgopolov who plays also slice backhand? Do you know that he was losing 4 1 in the fifth with Cipolla?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, look, you know, he's unpredictable player. He's kind of player that feeds on energy, as well, of the crowd I think. I guess the bigger the match is, the more crowd there is, you know, he feels better and he gets motivated. He has very fast hands. He can serve well. He has a great running forehand. He's good in defense. He can change of the pace. Generally he's a very good player. He just doesn't have this consistency, you know. So I knew in the back of my mind I needed to, you know, hang in there and try to wait for the opportunities. After I won first set, I felt that I have, you know, a little mental advantage over him, that I'm in a control.

Q. Everyone talks about the physical attributes that have made you No. 1. How would you assess your mental game, how it's improved over the past year?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I think mental strength you get over the years playing on the tour, getting experience, and using that experience in a right way. Physically out there, there is so many fit players. I mean, the game has changed tremendously. You know, top hundred players, physically there is not much difference between No. 78 in the world and No. 2, 3, 1, 5. Everybody's working hours and hours on the court, off the court. It's much more dedication to the sport than it used to be, in my opinion. But as you said, it's a mental ability to handle the pressure, to play well at the right moments, and that's why I think there is a certain difference with top 10 players.

Q. Were you annoyed by the crowd?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, no.

Q. What do you feel about the crowd?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, I mean, they liked it. I think it was interesting first set, so it was great. It was packed stadium. It was a different experience because I haven't played on that court for a while. So it was nice. I enjoyed it.

Q. Rafa recently said that tennis at its heart is a game of dealing with emergencies. Today in the tiebreak you had an incredible emergency. Compare the Open with your third round match at Wimbledon against Baghdatis where you hit your racquet and seemed to kick start your game somehow.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I wouldn't compare it. But I would say that I think you always need to have, you know, as a top player, you're expected to win most of the matches you're playing. This is obvious. So that's why there is an extra pressure on you. You cannot always perform the best. You can't always play as well as you want to. There are days where you don't feel great, your opponent is hitting the ball well, has nothing to lose. I guess in my cases I always have won matches in Grand Slams where, you know, it's a big test, it's a big struggle, long hours spent on the court, long points. But in the end that's something that, as you said, gives me a kickoff start and gives me confidence, you know, for the continuation of the tournament.

Q. Were you made aware that the crowd for Louis Armstrong today almost snaked out of the grounds right across the other side of the courtyard? It was almost half a mile long to get into your court.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Really?

Q. Did anyone tell you that?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think it was probably because of the tiebreak in the first set.

Q. Before the match had even started.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know about that.

Q. Apart from the Wimbledon queue, I don't think anyone has seen anything like it.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: That's fantastic. I was happy to be there. I was happy to experience the Armstrong court again, as I said, after a while. Sometimes it's really nice, you know, to be on the smaller court where the crowd is closer to the court where you can feel them. When you're taking a towel, you can feel them so close to you. I think those kind of matches off the center court are very exciting.

Q. Rafa, in his book, says if you keep grinding against Roger you can eventually wear him down, force him into making some errors, but against you there's really no backup plan. That's a pretty good compliment from a 10 time slam champ. I wanted your thoughts on that. And are you starting to feel that advantage before you even step on the court, that psychological advantage that you bring?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, first of all, I'm flattered to hear. Obviously he's a great champion, you know, somebody that's still on the top of the men's game and I think he still has a lot of Grand Slams to win. He's a great player and a great person off the court. So, you know, we played so many matches between each other, us three, four Murray, as well mostly on the major events. It is rivalry, if you want to call it, that is I, think, bringing a lot of excitement to the sport. I think whoever you play, your game plan is changing. You know, you cannot always have the same game plan for Roger, for Rafa, for Andy, you know, again depending on the surface. So you adjust to it with your coaches obviously before the match. Second question I forgot.

Q. The psychological advantage. Are you starting to feel that now?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, as I said, there is this expectations from the top players to get far in any event, especially Grand Slams. And I've been carrying this burden, let's say, for a while because I was top three in the last four years and I know how it feels to get on the center court in any Grand Slam. I know how it is to play the top guys in the big tournaments. I've got this, you know, necessary experience in order to know how to start a match and play well. But, you know, with this experience and with the success that you have over the years, you obviously have a certain psychological advantage over your opponents in the opening rounds especially. You know, after, it gets tougher because you're playing top guys, and that's where just a couple points decide the winner.

Q. Can you talk about the impact of your parents on your life and on your tennis life. Is there anything you wish they had done differently with you when you were younger?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, I am not one of the persons who likes to look back and regret on some things. Everything I have done or my parents or any members of my family have done for me, I'm very, very grateful for that. It's been tough times, you know, coming from a country that has had so much trouble. If I didn't have their support, I don't think I would manage to get here. But, you know, that's why they're my parents. That's why they're my family. They're there to support. Their support is always welcome, is always needed. Yeah, now I have two younger brothers that I hope that they will come one day to this seat.

Q. Is there any advice they gave you along the way that stands out in your mind?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, there are many advices, you know. I can't think of one. Never give up. Just always try to look on a positive side with anything that happens because there is many obstacles on the way. But you always need to stay focused.

Q. Speaking of your homeland, your opponent Tipsarevic talked a lot about facing you. One of the things he talked about was whether it's harder or easier to face someone you're familiar with. What is your mental approach?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: What did he say? (Smiling.)

Q. He said it's both easier and harder.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It's strange feeling. You know, we are professionals. Certainly we both want to win the match when we play against each other. So you kind of forget about, you know, friendship. You put that aside. You know, we never played Grand Slam, though. We never played best of five against each other, so it's going to be a first time experience for both of us. I think it's his first quarterfinals ever in Grand Slam. He's playing the best tennis of his life. He's very confident. But there is certainly this mentally strange feeling when you're playing somebody that is one of your best friends in the private life, as well. So you got to handle that, as well.

Q. Ana Ivanovic was noting that there will definitely be a Serbian into the semis. We were talking to her about Serbian tennis. She said that Serbians have quite a combustible character and maybe that's what is driving us. Can you comment on that?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I agree. I agree. There is something in the mentality that obviously helps us to be here, helped us to be successful in what we do. I think, as well, that the past and the life story that we have behind us, which is very similar, because we have all experienced the war, we have all experienced the tough times back home, struggles to have the right conditions to become a professional player. But in the end, those things, when you turn around, make you appreciate life much more. So I think that's an advantage of the mentality.

Źródło: http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interv ... 39790.html

[jaccol55]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAKkTwRg ... ture=feedu[/youtube]

[Ranger]

Djokovic Saves 2 MPs In Epic Comeback



World No. 1 Novak Djokovic extended his remarkable season by coming back from a 0-2 sets deficit for the second time in his career, saving two match points at 3-5 in the fifth set, to defeat Switzerland's Roger Federer, the 2004-08 champion, 6-7(7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 in three hours and 51 minutes on Saturday afternoon.

Djokovic will now attempt to become the sixth man in the Open Era to lift three Grand Slam championship trophies in the same year on Monday at the US Open, where he is bidding to lift his fourth major crown overall.

He will contest his sixth Grand Slam championship final against either World No. 2 and defending champion Rafael Nadal, of Spain, or fourth-seeded Scot and 2008 runner-up Andy Murray.

Djokovic, who became World No. 1 in July, will look to join Rod Laver (1969), Jimmy Connors (1974), Mats Wilander (1988), Federer (2004, 2006-07) and Nadal (2010) as a three-time major titlist in the same season. He won his second Australian Open title over Murray in January and beat Nadal in the Wimbledon final two months ago.

"It was a very similar situation to last year," acknowledged Djokovic. "I had to take my chances. I was very close to being on my way back home. He was serving. He was 40/15 up. I managed to hit that amazing forehand return which got me back. I got a little bit of energy from the crowd, and I fought back. I needed to stay positive, and I definitely didn't want the French Open to happen again. It was an incredible last two games.

"The confidence level is very high at this moment for me and it helps me to get into these big matches and go for the shots that I maybe I wasn't going for in the past couple of years. But it's all I think a process of learning and getting experience and maturing as a player, as a person. For these matches you're working hard and you want to be there. You want to be there and you want to win against guys like Federer."



In a good quality first set, which lasted 55 minutes, Djokovic dropped five points on serve en route to the tie-break. Federer, however, managed to open up a 5-2 lead in a dramatic tie-break and held three set point opportunities at 6-3. Djokovic saved all three with groundstroke winners, yet on Federer's fifth chance the Swiss hit a forehand down the line that the top seed tamely netted. Federer improved to 16-8 in tie-breaks this year.

Momentum swung back and forth in the second set. Federer broke serve first in the third game, converting his second opportunity with a forehand winner that landed behind a scrambling Djokovic. At 1-3, Djokovic responded by winning the next two games, sealing his first break point chance when Federer hit a forehand long. Federer bounced back, breaking Djokovic to love and holding for 5-3. Minutes later, Federer took a commanding lead after one hour and 51 minutes of play. Djokovic, in his fifth straight US Open semi-final, would now need to recover from a 0-2 sets deficit for the second time in his career (2005 Wimbledon - Guillermo Garcia-Lopez).

The third set started well for Djokovic. Cheered on by P-Diddy in the Serbian's box and a number of Hollywood actors dotted around the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Djokovic converted his third break point opportunity, in an eight-minute service game, when Federer hit a backhand into the net. Djokovic grew in stature, maintaining the three-game cushion to clinch the set after 42 minutes, with a service hold to 30 when Federer mis-hit a backhand long.



Djokovic showcased tremendous athleticism at the start of the fourth set, lunging for deep Federer groundstrokes to break the Swiss to 15 in the first game. With Federer barely winning a point in Djokovic's service games, the 24-year-old Serbian's comeback gained pace when he took a 4-1 lead as unforced errors by Federer continued to mount. At 1-5, Federer fought back from 15/40, but Djokovic was not to be denied as minutes later he sent the match to a deciding set.

In a tense decider, Federer broke Djokovic's serve in the eighth game. He went on to set up two match points at 40/15, but was unable to convert either of them. Djokovic broke back, when Federer double-faulted on the Serb's second break point opportunity. Would history repeat itself? In 2010, Federer squandered two match points on Djokovic's serve to lose the US Open semi-final.

Djokovic regained his composure to level at 5-5. In the next game, Djokovic's greater groundstroke power reaped dividends when he broke Federer's serve to 15 with a forehand winner. Djokovic coolly sealed his 63rd win in 65 matches this year to leave Federer shell-shocked again.

Źródło: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... derer.aspx

[DUN I LOVE]

Novak w 6 wielkoszlemowym finale!



Novak Djoković zagra po raz 3 w karierze w finale US Open. Serbski tenisista nie wygrał jeszcze nowojorskiej imprezy. Jutrzejszy mecz będzie 6 wielkoszlemowym finałem w karierze lidera rankingu.

Finały wielkoszlemowe Djokovicia:
Australian Open 2
Wimbledon 1
US Open 3

[Ranger]

Djokovic One Step Closer To Ending Nadal's Year-End No. 1 Hopes



Novak Djokovic could deliver the killer blow in the battle for the year-end No. 1 South African Airway ATP Ranking should he defeat defending champion Rafael Nadal in the US Open final Monday.

Nadal had clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking for the second time in three years after defeating the Serbian in the 2010 US Open final, but relinquished his spot in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings to Djokovic following Wimbledon this past July. He has since seen the Serbian extend his lead at the top.

A victory Monday would give Djokovic his third Grand Slam crown of 2011 to Nadal’s one, and would increase his advantage over his rival in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Year-To-Date Rankings to 4,310 points. To put it in context, an undefeated champion at the biggest three events over the final stretch of the season - the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments in Shanghai and Paris and the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - would net a total of 3,500 points.

Djokovic is coming off what he’s called “the greatest victory I had in 2011”, rallying from an 0-2 sets deficit and saving two match points for a second straight year to defeat five-time champion Roger Federer in Saturday’s semi-final, and will take added confidence from his superb season into a US Open rematch with Nadal.

“It's obvious that this is the best year of my career, by far,” said the World No. 1. “The confidence level that is very high at this moment for me helps me to get into this big matches and go for the shots that I maybe in some situations wouldn’t, that I wasn't going for those shots in the past couple years. But it's all I think a process of learning and getting experience and maturing as a player, as a person.

“It might have been the case that it helped me in this match [against Federer], knowing that I have such a great season and knowing that I have such great confidence. I really have nothing to lose, even though it's the semi-finals of a Grand Slam and playing somebody that is a great rival of mine. But for these matches you're working hard and you want to be there. You want to be there and you want to win against guys like Federer.”

Djokovic, who opened the year with the Australian Open title, is attempting to become the sixth man in the Open Era to win three Grand Slam titles in the same season, joining Rod Laver (1969), Jimmy Connors (1974), Mats Wilander (1988), Federer (2004, 2006-07) and Nadal (2010).

While Djokovic is chasing his 10th title of an incredible season, including a historic haul of five ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies, Nadal has won three titles - at Roland Garros, Monte-Carlo and Barcelona - and been relegated to runner-up status five times by Djokovic going into the US Open final.

“For moments I didn’t believe really 100 per cent with the victory,” admitted Nadal. “That’s the big problem because when that’s happening, you have less chances, much less than if you believe. If you believe, you are running more, you are putting one more ball inside. So that’s the problem, and that's what I’m gonna try to change for Monday.

“If I’m not ready to change for Monday, I have a goal to do it for next year, so I am ready to work hard. I am ready to work my tennis, to work my mental part, and hopefully I will ready for Monday. That’s what I would like. But if not, I really believe that I can come back next year and do it better.”

The last player to hold down the year-end No. 1 South African Airway ATP Ranking other than Nadal or Federer was Andy Roddick, following his 2003 US Open triumph.

Źródło: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... D-No1.aspx

[Joao]

Novak tańczy z szalonym fanem

[Kubecki]

#28) US Open 2011



R128 Conor Niland (IRL) 6-0 5-1 ret.
R64 Carlos Berlocq (ARG) 6-0 6-0 6-2
R32 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 6-3 6-4 6-2
R16 Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) 7-6 6-4 6-2
QF Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 7-6 6-7 6-0 3-0 ret.
SF Roger Federer (SUI) 6-7 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5
W Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6-2 6-4 6-7 6-1

[DUN I LOVE]

To 4 wielkoszlemowy tytuł serbskiego tenisisty, 3 w tym roku:

Australian Open 2008, 2011
Wimbledon 2011
US Open 2011

Djoković wyrównał osiągnięcia Jima Couriera i Guillermo Vilasa, którzy także 4 razy unosili ku górze wielkoszlemowy puchar.

[Ranger]

Konferencja prasowa po zwycięstwie w Us Open 2011:

Spoiler:

An Interview With: Novak Djokovic

THE MODERATOR: Before we begin, we'll have a word from Gordon Smith, the USTA executive director and chief executive officer.

GORDON SMITH: Novak, to one of the greatest performances in the history of Grand Slam finals, to the US Open 2011, a toast.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Thank you very much. I'll skip the champagne.

THE MODERATOR: First question.

Q. Congratulations. Last year at this time it was obviously a different result. Was there something that triggered in your mind that moment that made you believe that a year like this was possible? And what was it?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, last year I played finals of US Open and I played another great match against Rafa. I had a tournament that could easily end already in the first round when I was two sets to one down and very close to losing to my countryman Troicki.

When I won that match, I overcame the challenge and I managed to come to the finals and win a great match against Roger. So I guess at this level you need those matches, those tough matches against top guys to win in order to get confidence, get self‑belief on the court that you can really win majors and win the big matches. So I guess it just clicked in my head. I think that throughout last couple of years I didn't change my game in any major way. I think most of the strokes are the same that they were in last two, three years. It's just that I'm hitting the shots that I maybe wasn't hitting in last two, three years now. I'm going for it, I'm more aggressive, and I have just a different approach to the semifinals and finals of major events, especially when I'm playing two great champions, Rafa and Roger. In last couple of years that wasn't the case. I was always kind of trying to wait for their mistakes or being out there and playing my best tennis and not really having the positive attitude and kind of believing that I can win. So this has changed, I guess, and the US Open 2010 was one of the turning points in my career, definitely.

Q. Was that Tylenol? What did you take when you were having the back problems?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, it was some painkiller. I don't know. They gave me ‑‑ yeah, and I had the rib problem and they had to mobilize my back as well, and some cramps in the leg. So it was more than one thing. But it wasn't a surprise, to be honest. You know, luckily for me I had the ability to ask for medical timeout, and it helped me in the fourth set. I was going more ‑‑ I felt the most discomfort and pain with my serve, so I tried to go more for the precision rather than for speed. I think that actually helped me to get into the rally better, because he was expecting maybe a bit stronger serve so he was returning short and I was taking my chances. I had to make the points very short, because it's obvious that he is the one that's physically fitter than me on the court today after the third set was done. nI knew that and I had to go for my shots, and I did.

Q. How would you describe your physical and mental accomplishments in beating Federer and Nadal back‑to‑back to win this championship?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: You know, the result ‑ results ‑ that I had this year are amazing, and definitely something that I haven't expected. But it keeps coming because I think I have a great scheduling this year. I know when to have a little break, when to rest my body, when to get ready and prepare well for, you know, US Open swing, you know, the clay swing, now the Asian swing. So now I learned to get my scheduling right. And with the great team that I have, I guess that helps me to perform my best tennis in the most important events. This is, in the end ‑‑ the bottom line is that that's the whole point, to win Grand Slams, because these are the tournaments most important and most valuable in our sport, four Grand Slams. So this is where you want to win. Yeah, this has changed in comparison with last couple of years definitely. Right now I feel drained emotionally and physically and mentally, but it's normal, you know, after such a long year, so many matches. But I have this trophy here, and this is what I was fighting for. I'm going to take some time off, I guess.

Q. The Grand Slam year is obviously over now. No matter what happens, from here on, this is one of, if not the greatest, year a single man has ever had. What does that mean to you considering what your family went through, the bombing? This personally is a great achievement. How does it hit you emotionally?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I guess it takes some time too realize the success that I had this year, especially now, I mean, winning another major. It's going to probably all settle down towards the end of the year when I take some time off and analyze the year. But right now I'm all over positive emotions. It's really hard to find the words that can describe the feeling that I had and that I have still. But I know this couldn't come overnight. It's a long process, as you mentioned. Throughout all my life I've been working, being committed to this sport 100%. That's the only the way you can really succeed: the right balance between private life and life on tour, which is very requiring, demanding. But this is something that I love to do, and it brings me joy every single time I step on the court and make a win. Nothing can replace that feeling.

Q. Similar question: You started off a skinny kid from a little village...

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Still skinny kid.

Q. Yeah. You come up in this era with Federer and Nadal and then have had this incredible run. In your private moments when you have time to reflect, what do you say to yourself about this achievement?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I go back in my thoughts in my childhood, all these memories growing up, playing tennis, spending time in Serbia experiencing a lot of different kinds of situations and experiences in the life. That helped actually to become a better person, to appreciate things in life more. You know, I owe my parents a lot, because I think they have done a great job in bringing me up and helping me and supporting me throughout all my career. And couple of other people that have always been there for me. This is individual sport, but it's not an effort of myself. I may be on the court by myself winning or losing, I maybe take the whole credit or all the blame, but it's actually the team, the family, the support, everybody around you that spends their energy as well. They sacrifice their private life as well. I mean, all my team members, they have their own families, they have their own kids, and, you know they go through this with me and they put their energy and effort into my success. That's why it's all team effort.

Q. We know you have changed your diet from the end of last year. I was wondering what you ate last night and what you ate this morning right before the match, and what are you going to do tonight?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I'll give you a simple answer: last night I didn't have any gluten, and tonight I will have a bunch of gluten ‑ and alcohol.

Q. Could you tell me what you ate last night?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't know, rice. Nothing really exciting, you know. Carbohydrates, protein. That's it.

Q. Tennis on this level is played with very thin margins. Andy Murray had you down on clay; Roger had you down. What do you think makes the difference to make those margin fall on your side and not your opponent's side?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, work, I think self‑belief on the court. As you said, we're all working very hard in our off seasons. We're all dedicated, especially the top players to this sport. We all want to improve. You see what Federer and Nadal have been doing the past couple of years. They've been so dominate it's incredible. It's true, especially in the big events and matches, winner is decided by small margins, couple of points. I guess the winner is the one that believes in victory more than the other. That's all there is.

Q. For you, is the next big goal a career Grand Slam?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Sure. Why not? There is still a lot of things to prove, you know, to myself, to the tennis world. I still want to win many more events, many more major events. That's something ‑‑ as I said, you know, it's not just habit of standing up every morning and being focused on what you do. It's just that love for the sport that keeps me going. And winning on the court, that feeling, as along as it stays with me, I will keep fighting for more trophies. Yeah, so it would be unbelievable to be able to complete the Grand Slam, to win the French Open. It's something that is definitely an ambition, but it's going to take time.

Q. After winning Wimbledon, you said you had a lot of fun with that match. We know how much you like to have fun.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Everybody does.

Q. How much fun you had today?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I think I've played a great match really from the start to the end. Even though I lost the third set, I was three times break up in that set. Maybe I should not drop my serve in those moments. Look, when you play that well you must enjoy. You must bring your smile on your face. It's all going well, all going on your side, so... But you're focused and trying to take one point at a time and win in the end. So, yeah, I'm going to have more fun now when I know the match is over.

Q. Specific to Rafa, at the moment, how much do you enjoy facing him and the challenge of breaking down what he does best?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It's really hard to say that I enjoy playing Rafa or Roger. It's a challenge. You know, it is on one side an incredible feeling if you win against them; on the other side, it's very disappointing if you lose because they're your greatest rivals. But I definitely enjoy when I'm playing my best tennis, regardless who is across the net. The way I look at it, it takes a lot of mental energy and physical energy to win against these guys, especially Rafa. He never gives up. You could see that today. Two sets and a break down and serving for the match and he's coming back. That's why he's a great champion. So when I lost this third set it wasn't fun, definitely. I knew that I am not physically there. I'm not as fit as I was in the start of the match, so I needed to do take chances, and I did. It was an incredible set for me.

Q. You just said the winner is the one who believes most in victory than the others. Do you believe at this point that you can't lose?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No. I don't believe anybody is invincible. You know the amount of matches that I lost this year is just incredible. As I was saying, I think that positive attitude is actually something that keeps you on top of your game. Because when you go out on the court, when I had the run that I had in the opening two, three months of the year, everybody was wondering when the streak will end. I was trying not to pay attention on that. I was trying to really take one match at a time, keep things very simple, and, you know, believe that this streak can go forever. But I knew it's not going to go forever. It's logical. You change surfaces, sooner or later you will lose matches. I mean, Roger had years when he was winning three Grand Slams in a year, when he was invincible, 40, 50 matches; Rafa as well last year. So this is you can say my year, or the year where I performed my best tennis at major events. It's something that makes me incredibly happy. It's definitely going to take a lot of effort to try to repeat even half of what I have done this year for next year. Look, I'm trying to enjoy the present, enjoy this moment, and then I will think about future later.

Q. Even though you are the most charismatic player of the tour...

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Thank you.

Q. And perhaps best‑liked, why would you say that the last couple matches the crowd was not with you really? How are you going to prepare for Davis Cup?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I didn't say that.

Q. I felt most of the crowd was rooting...

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think today the crowd was half/half actually. I think in many moments I had the crowd chanting my name, and it was great support. I think, you know, you always try to have crowd support on your side. You cannot influence the people, who they will support. Everybody has their own favorite tennis player. I'm still new in this business.

Q. How will you prepare for the Davis Cup?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, listen, I'm going to go to Serbia now, but I have many commitments now, tomorrow. I will think about recovering the most and enjoying the victory and what I have done so far; Davis Cup comes in couple of days.

Q. Since becoming an ambassador of the game, everybody is getting to know you. What are you mostly excited for them to get to know that they didn't know before?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Um, well, it's very hard to keep the private life quiet and private, keep it away from media and from public, because as a successful athlete, you're followed. It's normal. You're getting attention and people get to know you as a player first of all. This is something that I do for life, and people come to watch me play tennis. Then they get to know you as a person as well. Now with the role that I have, the No. 1 of the world, I know that there is huge amount of responsibility on my back as well to represent the sport in the best way. I'm still learning. Every day I'm learning. I make mistakes. Everybody does. But I try to keep my same personality and enjoy every single moment of my life that I have.

Q. Could Serbia beat Argentina in the Davis Cup without you?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I think so, but I'm going to be on the team anyway. So we'll see. We'll talk about Davis Cup when I come in Serbia.

Q. You seem to have a smaller margin over Federer than over Nadal, even watching the match tonight, because as a baseliner you can make winners from both sides, forehand and backhand, while he can do it mostly with the forehand.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: You're talking about who can do it with forehand mostly? Nadal?

Q. Yes. You have a smaller margin with Federer because he has more variety, where Nadal can hit winners just with the forehand.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Look, I lost many matches in a row against Roger and Rafa last year, 2009, and now I won ‑‑ of the maybe five matches I won four against Roger, and against Rafa I won sixes in a row or whatever. It keeps changing all the time. Obviously when you start winning more often against your opponent, whoever is across the net, you feel that you have ‑‑ in next match that's coming you have a mental advantage. Maybe I just know what to play, and I get into the court knowing what to do and just, you know, playing my game. Against Rafa you have to be aggressive. You know, you have to try to go for winners, because he's the fittest player around. He's an incredible defender.

Q. May I also ask you if your endorsement Tacchini goes on for a long time. When Sampras, McEnroe all won, after one year they were not anymore with Tacchini.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I'm still with them. I'm happy. I don't know how long. It's going to go for long, but let's see. I don't know.

Q. How much it affected you when you won in the seventh game of the second set and this fan of your shouted? You remember? You opened your hands after you lost the point.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Sorry. I'm really sorry. I don't remember. So many things happened today.

Q. What do you think was the key factor winning the complete Grand Slam in one year? Do you feel capable?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: But I didn't win...

Q. What do you think is the key factor to win the complete Grand Slam in one year? Do you feel you are capable?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: How many players have done that?

Q. You could be the first.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: One guy or two. (Laughter.) Look, if I make half what I've done this year next year I'll be happy. Look, I do have always a huge desire to win every Grand Slam that I'm playing on. I player equally well for each Grand Slam throughout the year. It's a task that you really ‑‑ I don't want to say that's not possible. It's possible. Everything is possible. But still, it's such a tough task to ask to win all four Grand Slams in a year. How many players did it in all history?

Q. You played two great matches in a row. Which opponent are you more proud of beating, Federer or Nadal?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I'm proud of winning US Open. I don't really rate my wins against Roger or Rafa more than ‑‑ more one than the other. I just try to win a tournament. That's what is different. So this is something that makes me proud.

Q. Rafa talked about the difference in the match. Talk about the third game of the second, that really, really long, long game.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, he was 2‑0 up in both opening sets, and I managed to break back. Yeah, that one side was very ‑‑ on one side end you feel that you had very strong backwind. You could play easier on that side than the other side. We both knew that. If you look at the statistics, most of the breaks that came in the match happened from the side where you had the wind in your back. It affects the whole match.

Q. He said he didn't get enough free points on his serve.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It was so windy it was hard to find the rhythm and be consistent with serving. I would say definitely that he served better last year in US Open than he did now. But, you know, I tried every time that I had second serve to step in and take my chances.

Q. How would you compare the level of play it took to win versus all of the matches you had to win to get to this point and the satisfaction of achieving this?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, you obviously prepare differently for each opponent that you play against. I can't really compare the last two matches with the opening couple of matches, because it's obvious that when you're playing the top players you feel more stressed on the court and your approach is different. It's normal to have, you know, the longer matches, the more difficult encounters where you have to step in and step up and play better than you do in opening rounds of a Grand Slam. If that's what you want to...

Q. What I wanted to get at is, when you were out there today, how did you feel about the way you were playing?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I felt great. As I was saying before, maybe it is the best match I played in the US Open so far this year. I stepped on the court believing I can win, and I was hitting the balls from the baseline really strong and flat. You know, I didn't give him any comfort, any rhythm. I was kind of trying to keep the control of the match; it was working well.

Q. About your public profile, earlier this summer you went out and did the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, you went on the Conan O'Brien show. Do you like those kinds of opportunities? Are they something you feel is important for yourself or the sport?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I think it's fun for myself to be a part of the great shows. Those shows, Jay Leno, Conan O' Brien, they had the shows for many years already, and I was flattered and happy to be invited to be on those shows. I was spending some time in L.A. before the US Open series tournaments started. I was practicing there, so it was fun. I like it. I like the fun TV shows, you know, something that ‑‑ somewhere where I can laugh, where I can reveal my personality. Those shows offered me that. I think it's as well very important for my career, for my PR.

Q. Similar question: No one in our game likes the stage more than you. What's it like to perform on the New York stage? Are you proud how in just three years you've advanced from that tough moment a while back to so much acceptance now?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, when you go down the road and when you're on the tour for so long, you experience different situations. You make mistakes in your career, but you learn from those mistakes. It's normal. You cannot be always on top of your game. You cannot be always in the right mood. You play so many matches, and it's always ‑‑ as a top player, it's always under radar. Many people watch when you're playing. This is the biggest court, biggest center court we have in our sport, so every time you step out there, it's not only about playing tennis, it's about representing yourself in the best possible way.

Q. You the new world No. 1, and you talk about learning from the other two, Roger and Rafa. You are quite different from those two. How did you manage to learn something from the person who's so different from you?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think everybody is different. I don't compare myself to Rafa or Roger or anybody else, but I do take a look on their careers, the way they are handling everything, and I learn. I definitely learn from both of them how to represent myself in public, how to carry the responsibility. I'm open for everything.

Q. Give us an example.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Too many things.

Źródło: http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interv ... 55075.html

[Ranger]

Djokovic Dethrones Nadal, Captures Fourth Major Title



ATP World Tour No. 1 Novak Djokovic captured his 10th piece of silverware in what has been a remarkable season as he beat defending champion Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-1 in the US Open final on Monday in New York.

It is the sixth time this season that Djokovic has beaten Nadal, with all of their contests coming in finals. He defeated Nadal in the finals of ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome, before dethroning the Spaniard at Wimbledon. It was the first US Open final to feature the world’s Top 2 players since 1995.

Upon being announced as the 24th different US Open champion, Djokovic said, "It really sounds unreal; it's an incredible feeling. I had an amazing year and it keeps going. Every time I play Rafa it's a big challenge. I want to congratulate him on a great tournament again. I wish that we will have many more tough matches in the upcoming years. It's an absolute pleasure to be a part of the very few players that have won this trophy throughout history."

After victories at the Australian Open (d. Murray) and Wimbledon earlier in the year, Djokovic becomes the sixth man in the Open Era to win three Grand Slam championships in the same season. The 24-year-old Serbian captured his fourth major title overall, having also triumphed at the 2008 Australian Open (d. Tsonga).

It is the first time that Djokovic has laid his hands on the US Open trophy, having twice before finished runner-up. In his first major final in 2007, he lost out to Federer, and he was beaten in four sets by Nadal last year as the Spaniard completed the career Grand Slam.

As he did in 2010, Djokovic reached the final at Flushing Meadows after saving two match points to defeat Federer in a five-set epic in the semi-finals. The Belgrade native rallied from two sets down for the second time in his career, and saved two match points when Federer led 5-3, 40/15 in the fifth set.

He is the first man to go on to win a Grand Slam championship after saving match point since Marat Safin won the 2005 Australian Open (d. Hewitt) having saved match point against Federer in the semi-finals.

Djokovic has compiled a staggering 64-2 mark in 2011, including a perfect 41-0 start to the season which ended in defeat to Federer in the Roland Garros semi-finals. The Serb’s only other defeat this season came against Andy Murray in the Cincinnati final, where he retired with a shoulder injury.



The 25-year-old Nadal was bidding to win his 11th major title and second of the season after capturing a record-equalling sixth Roland Garros crown (d. Federer) in June. The left-hander has been left in the shadows by Djokovic this season, but has still compiled extremely strong results, recording a 59-11 win-loss mark and reaching nine tour-level finals (3-6 record).

"Obviously I'm disappointed," said Nadal. "This guy is doing unbelievable things, so I just want to congratulate Novak. What he did this year is probably impossible to repeat. I tried my best in every moment.

"These kind of matches are very difficult, they bring your body to the limit. I think I tried to play aggressive, but he always made a fantastic comeback. I'm happy about what I did. I ran to every ball. I fought until the last ball. This year I've lost a lot of finals against him. I have to accept I won a lot in the past and the only thing I can do is to try my best every day to keep improving."

It is only the fourth Grand Slam final Nadal has lost. His three previous runner-up finishes all came at Wimbledon, losing to Federer in the 2006-2007 finals before succumbing to Djokovic as defending champion this year.

Źródło: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... Title.aspx

[Ranger]

Djokovic Sets Sights On Career Slam



After winning his fourth major title on Monday in New York, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic set his sights on completing the career Grand Slam. Only the Roland Garros crown eludes the Serb, who won the Australian Open in 2008 and 2011, and captured the Wimbledon crown 10 weeks ago. He has claimed three of the four slams this year, becoming only the sixth player in the Open Era to win three majors in a season.

“This is you can say my year, or the year where I performed my best tennis at major events,” said Djokovic. “It's something that makes me incredibly happy. It's definitely going to take a lot of effort to try to repeat even half of what I have done this year for next year. I guess it takes some time to realise the success that I had this year, especially now winning another major. I'm all over positive emotions. It's really hard to find the words that can describe the feeling that I had and that I have still.

“There are still a lot of things to prove to myself and to the tennis world,” continued the Serb, who was beaten in the semi-finals at Roland Garros this year by Roger Federer, just one of two losses he has suffered all season. “I still want to win many more major events. It's just that love for the sport that keeps me going. And winning on the court, that feeling, as long as it stays with me, I will keep fighting for more trophies. It would be unbelievable to be able to complete the Grand Slam, to win the French Open. It's something that is definitely an ambition, but it's going to take time.”

Buy Tickets To See Djokovic & Nadal At Barclays ATP World Tour Finals

2011 has without doubt been the year of Djokovic. The Belgrade native has shifted the order in world tennis, leapfrogging Nadal and Federer to sit atop the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings, a position he will in all likelihood hold at the end of the season, and battered Nadal into submission six times. Going into the 2010 US Open, Djokovic had not recorded a Top 10 win all season; this year he is 20-2 against the game’s elite. How does the Serb explain the turnaround?

“I have just a different approach to the semi-finals and finals of major events, especially when I'm playing two great champions, Rafa and Roger,” said Djokovic. “In the past couple of years that wasn't the case. I was always kind of trying to wait for their mistakes or being out there and playing my best tennis but not really having the positive attitude and kind of believing that I can win. So this has changed, I guess, and the US Open 2010 was one of the turning points in my career, definitely.”

The turning point Djokovic refers to came in last year’s semi-finals against Federer, when he saved two match points to win a five-set epic - a feat he repeated this past this weekend, only this time he also bested Nadal in the final.

“It is on one side an incredible feeling if you win against them; on the other side, it's very disappointing if you lose because they're your greatest rivals,” said Djokovic. “The way I look at it, it takes a lot of mental energy and physical energy to win against these guys, especially Rafa. He never gives up. You could see that today. Two sets and a break down and serving for the match and he's coming back. That's why he's a great champion. So when I lost this third set it wasn't fun, definitely. I knew that I am not physically there. I'm not as fit as I was in the start of the match, so I needed to do take chances, and I did. It was an incredible set for me.”

Źródło: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... -Slam.aspx