ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 15, 2021

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

D. EVANS/N. Djokovic

6-4, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What did you find so difficult on the court today against Dan?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, congratulations to him. I mean, he deserved to win. He was a better player. Just more focused I guess and played with a better quality in the decisive moments.

To be honest, I mean, this has been probably one of the worst matches and performances from my side I can recall in the last years. I don't want to take anything away from his win, but from my side, I just felt awful on the court overall. Just nothing worked. It's one of those days.

Q. When you say you felt awful on the court, had you been feeling good beforehand? Was it just in the match today?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, a little bit beforehand, since yesterday. I don't want to talk about it. Should have and could have done much, much better. I mean, just awful performance. I can't take anything positive away from this match.

I mean, just one of these things you have to accept. I guess you have to move on. It's not the first neither the last loss, but definitely leaves a bitter feeling exiting the court this way.

Q. On Dan Evans himself, when he plays like that, can he really do damage at the slams? If he can keep that consistency, he has the ability to become a key player?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: He has a lot of variety in his game. He uses slice so efficiently. He's quick around the court. He serves and volleys. He's got a really all-around game. It's really a nice player to watch, not a great player to play against. Lots of talent.

He's definitely got the game. I mean, at the slams obviously best-of-five, it's different. Depends on which surface. He would probably agree maybe clay wasn't his surface growing up, most preferred one. But the way he plays on clay, I think he plays on a similar quality level that he plays probably on his best surfaces like faster hard court or maybe grass.

Yeah, I mean, he's a very good player, no doubt about it.

Q. Just wondering if you leave this tournament concerned regarding the next weeks of training. Do you feel it's normal because you're just getting back into the rhythm of the whole thing?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, exactly. I mean, yesterday I played pretty good match I thought. Today was completely the opposite of what I felt yesterday. Just was obviously very, very windy, tough to play in these kind of conditions against a guy like Evans who makes you move. He's very unpredictable with his shots. He dismantled my game.

I mean, I was just not feeling it, and playing pretty bad. Obviously right now, as I walk off the court, I'm disappointed with the way I played, the way I felt on the court. But it's a long clay season. Still plenty of tournaments, plenty of room to improve.

Obviously I have to work, hopefully get a better performance next week in Belgrade.

Q. One more question about Dan. How difficult is it playing someone who hits so many slice backhands?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I didn't hear the last part of your question.

Q. Is it difficult playing someone who hits so many slice backhands when you have to generate a lot of your own pace?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes, of course. But it was I guess raining, and the courts are pretty wet. The ball bounces, especially on the slice, quite low. It's a particular surface, clay. You slip a lot. If you play someone that is very talented, he's got a very good hand, good touch, he just puts you off balance all the time.

But nevertheless, I mean, from my side, I definitely should have done better. As I said, definitely that's been one of the worst performances I can remember in many years.