ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL

January 5, 2023

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/Q. Halys

7-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Into the quarterfinals, a hard-fought win over Quentin. Talk about the match today.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I thought he played on a very high level. He started off better than I did, made an early break. It was difficult to break his serve because he was hitting his spots and he was being very precise, and big serves, as well.

He took his chances being very aggressive, staying close to the line. I think it was very, I thought, even matched that was decided in two tiebreakers.

Credit to him for really playing some great tennis and fighting until the last point.

Proud to be able to overcome a challenge like this. Winning two tiebreakers is always great, I think, for confidence level at the beginning of the year. Looking forward to the next one.

Q. Towards the end of the match, a lot of spectators were rushing towards the front. There was a lot of excitement, a few screams. Do you think this is the most popular you've been in Australia this year?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't have an opinion about that. I honestly respect and appreciate the support, all the fans here this year, and particularly of the Serbian community has been very nice to me and to my team and making us feel very welcome.

I'm trying to use that energy that they are giving me to play my best tennis and win a match. Hopefully I give them some good sensations, as well, good feelings of watching me play, and at the end of the day that's what professional sport is all about, trying to interact with fans and through your game, your performance, and also some other interactions on the court if you have them.

But it's nice. Obviously having a big support is always something that you want and you are wishing for basically.

Q. We heard that you offered Nick Kyrgios a practice match before the Australian Open. Is that true, and how did that come about, if so?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, we are talking with the Australian Open about doing something in a week prior to the start of the tournament. Yes, I chatted with Nick, and I would like to play with him, and he accepted, but he wants shorter sets. Let's see if that works out.

Q. Australian Open announced that they're going to throw open some perfect practice or whatever for fans to come and watch players playing practice matches in the lead-up. Is that what that's part of?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes.

Q. Are you happy with that idea?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes, yes, absolutely. I feel like most of us need matches and practice matches and as many points that we can play prior to the Australian Open. I'm happy if that will be organized. We're still not having 100 percent confirmation, but I think most likely will happen with Nick, so I'm looking forward to that.

Q. Just touching on Nick again, your relationship with him has come so far from two years ago. Two years ago we were talking about the insults coming from his direction, that sort of thing, and now there seems to be a bit of a "bromance." Can you talk us through how quickly it's changed and where you're at right now, you two?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I wasn't his favorite guy - let's take it that way - for many years. But he was one of the very few that stood by me last year, and I respect that and appreciate that. In those moments you can actually see who truly supports you and who is by your side and who goes with, I guess, the flow of the society and the pressures that media puts on you. He was giving me undivided support in the moments where I was being challenged a lot, and him as an Australian, I respected that a lot.

Since then, our relationship has changed for better.

Q. Since we've last spoken to you, obviously it's come out that the U.S. has extended their ban on unvaccinated non-citizens until April. Can we get your reaction to that?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I understand it -- I saw it, but I don't think it's official yet. When it's official, then we can speak about it.

Q. I think it actually is; I read a released statement from the Transport Authority saying exactly that, although it seems that it might be just like a pro forma automatic extension of it and could be at any time the government could say, well, no --

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Look, if it is official, then it is. I mean, what can I do? Nothing. That's it. You know my position. It is what it is.

Q. At this stage are you treating your schedule as though you will be going to Indian Wells and Miami for that spring over there?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't understand the question.

Q. With your schedule coming up, will you at this stage, given that you're treating it as though you will be attending Indian Wells and Miami?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I'm hoping, but if I can't go, I can't go. That's it.

Q. Can I get your take on this young group? Seems we've been talking about for 10, 15 years who's finally going to challenge you guys. But there seems to be a really quality group coming through: Alcaraz, Rune, Felix, Musetti. Is this the most impressive collection of young talent since you've become the best player in the game?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I feel like every generation has some great talents to offer. I think the age groups may be one or two years' difference. I've seen many talents through the years come through and challenge, I guess, us guys at the top that have been more established at the top of the game.

What Alcaraz has done last season has been extremely impressive and historic for our sport, so he deserves praise, no doubt. He's already now -- he's No. 1 in the world. There's no higher peak to climb than that one, and already won a Slam, and he's still so young.

I guess we're going to see lots of Alcaraz and Rune in the future. Then Felix, I think he's probably playing the tennis of his life in the last five, six months. Maybe because of Rune and Alcaraz, people don't talk maybe as much about Felix because he's been around a bit longer, but I think he deserves to be right there in the conversation right at the top with these guys, and Musetti, as well, you mentioned, someone that is putting his game together, I think is gaining more confidence and is improving.

I think for these guys, it's only upwards in terms of direction and what they can do in this sport. They have really good personalities. I have a good relationship with all of them.

I think it's nice for tennis because we need -- other than great tennis players, we also need good personalities, good characters, guys that know the game, respect the game, carry also the weight of the top players in this sport in a proper manner because they are ambassadors of our sport, and I think that's something that over the time they will understand better. Probably not right now because they're still young, but the sport has given us so much, so I think it's important to be always conscious of the fact that as a top, top player you carry much more responsibility of representing the sport than just yourself.

Yeah, it seems like men's tennis is in good hands for the future. I'm sure that Nadal and myself will try to mess up their plans a little bit for I don't know how long, but we'll try.