I believe I can win every match that I play: Djokovic

Top Stories

I believe I can win every match that I play: Djokovic
Tennis world number one Novac Djokovic during the press conference for Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships at the Cuba Bar Jumeirah Creekside Hotel on Sunday, February 21, 2016. Photo by Dhes Handumon

Published: Sun 21 Feb 2016, 8:29 PM

Last updated: Sun 21 Feb 2016, 10:31 PM

After having left the tennis loving world stunned with his jaw-dropping brilliance, Novak Djokovic says he is not surprised by the level he has achieved in recent times.
"To be honest it doesn't surprise me at all. I expect a lot from myself," the 11-time Grand Slam winner told us during free-wheeling chat in Dubai on Sunday afternoon.
"I put a lot of lot dedication in every aspect of the game in order to get the results that I am getting. So I try to approach each tournament optimistically and I believe that I can win every match that I play against anybody on any surface.
"And I think that tournaments and results in the last couple of years have given me the reason to be optimistic. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.
"I just try not to be overconfident because I have lots of respect for the other players and I know that I am not the only one who wants to be the best in the world.
"But I am at the peak of my career at the moment and I am trying to use this momentum that I have and take everything out of myself and you know I maybe I can achieve more.
"To what extent I don't know and I don't want to think about it much. I know that winning 11 Grand Slams people start talking about the all-time greats and me coming closer to them.
"But I still would like to follow the kind of approach and philosophy that I have followed in my life. And I am now focusing  only on the next tournament," said Djokovic who will be bidding to win his fifth Dubai Championship title when the tournament starts on Monday.
Remarkably, Djokovic said he spent the next two weeks after winning the Australian Open without touching a racquet.
"I spent a lot of time with my wife and my child. I didn't even touch the racquet. I think it's important to balance well in order to recharge and gain that freshness that you need in order to continue playing at a high level.
"After the Australian Open, I took a break. It's very important to regroup and rest and gather the necessary substance for the tough three months, four months because I have played a lot of tennis from the beginning of the year until the final of the Australian Open.
"So it was necessary for me to cool off a lit bit. There is also something more now. Thankfully I am a father and a husband now. That's already a lot of work and but also a lot of pleasure. But now I am eager to come back and I am eager to compete again."
The Serbian admitted that he grew up dreaming of becoming the best player in the world.
'I was very fortunate to have the chance to play the sport under those circumstances in Serbia. I have to thank my parents for giving me this opportunity.
"And of course, as any child growing up, you dream of becoming a tennis player, you dream of winning Grand Slams and becoming the best in the world.
"So you know I have managed to achieve that and being in this position is something that everybody wants. So that also keeps me grounded and allows me to turn to the next stage even though I have achieved so much.
"I have to reflect on it and be satisfied with that. But it's not the final word. I still have many years in front of me."
Djokovic played some insane tennis in his wins over Roger Federer and Andy Murray in the semifinals and the final at the Australian Open.
"Yes the highlights from the Australian Open would be those two matches that I played. It's something that makes me very pleased to know that after a tough fourth round against Simon I was able to perform at my best when it was needed the most in the tournament.
"Semifinals against Roger especially those two first sets and against Andy in the final was amazing.
"Winning in straight sets is definitely something that satisfies me and you know when you get to the Grand Slam final stages it can be emotionally and physically tiring. Your level and performance might vary but now I am actually feeling that I was very consistent, very strong and very solid. That's what I take out of my performance at the Australian Open."
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com

By Rituraj Borkakoty

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

More news from