Novak Djokovic started the Turin Finals as he could. The Serbian defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6 after a good run. In the post-match press conference, the former world number one spoke about how unusual his 2022 tennis year has been, starting with his exclusion from the Australian Open: “I can say that this year has been different from all the other years that I have been in the circuit.
Very unusual due to the circumstances, especially in the first two months of the year. It was difficult for me to find the balance to play the best tennis with everything that was happening off the court after Australia. But I think towards the end of the clay season I started playing the way I want, at the level I want.
Wimbledon was a very important tournament for me and throughout my career it always came exactly when I needed it. It was a huge relief, but at the same time a huge confidence boost. I feel like every tournament I’ve played after Wimbledon I’ve played at a high level.
I won two of the three and played the final in the third one, which was Bercy last week. I also started this tournament well, I usually like to play indoors, historically I have had very good results on this type of court.”
On the condition of favorite for the title
“All the players have said it: here all the games are final, there are no clear favorites to be honest. You have to be very strong from the beginning.” That was my case against Tsitsipas.
“Catching up with Roger Federer if he wins the Finals again”. Well, sure, I know. Making history in sports is always a big motivating factor for me.
Nole wants to get back on top
Novak Djokovic explained how the conditions in Turin aid quality servers like himself and Tsitsipas.
“Well, I started off the match very well. I knew that there’s probably going to be a lot of easy-won service games from both him and I because the conditions are such where there’s an altitude, it’s fast, it’s very difficult to return.
If you’re serving well, if you’re hitting your spots well, being precise, you win a lot of free points. That was the case,” he explained. “It was presented to me. I was really sharp and focused. I used the chance.
Obviously that affects the whole game,” he added. “Even if it’s the first game, I knew it was on his mind. I just wanted to be consistent and keep serving well, which I did.”
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