ROLAND GARROS

June 5, 2025

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/A. Zverev

4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congratulations. Did you have the souvenir of making so many dropshots in one game?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, maybe against Rafa. I don't know. I played too many matches to remember, to be honest. Yeah, I mean, against the wind, especially that side where I was, you know, playing the last game, I felt that the wind increased the last few games.

I mean, from that end was almost playing against two players. I feel like the ball is not going anywhere you are hitting it. Yeah, obviously people don't see that on the TV, but on the court, you can feel it a lot.

Yeah, was just trying to mix it up. At one point, you know, I felt like I couldn't go through him, so I try to bring him to the net. I try to risk it with the dropshot, serve and volley. It had to be done.

I mean, I was obviously tense, you know, to finish off the match, and I think he just was playing consistent from the back of the court the last game, was not making errors and was making me work.

Yeah, it was an amazing match. Obviously beating one of the best players in the world on the biggest stages is something that I definitely work for, and I still, you know, push myself on a daily basis at this age because of these kind of matches and these kind of experiences. It's a proven kind of testament to myself that I can and to others that I can still play on the highest level.

Yeah, it's obviously great feeling, and I'm trying to enjoy it.

Q. A few weeks ago you were kind of in a room like this in Madrid talking about how obviously after your losses, it was a new reality for you, and you mentioned it's a cycle of life, of your career. I'm sure there were a lot of doubts there and it was a difficult moment. How satisfied are you with the way you have bounced back from that and found a way to play at such a high level as you did today?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I was saying that because, you know, if you look at the results I have had this year, I mean, multiple first match losses at the big tournaments, Masters events tournaments.

Of course, that wasn't a great feeling, but it's something that I haven't experienced for many years, 20 years that I have been playing. That's why I said, you know, in a way I have to try to find a way to bounce back at the Grand Slam.

It's no secret, I mean, it's been like that for years, but especially now, it's all about Grand Slams for me, trying to, you know, raise the level and play my best tennis at these four tournaments, and this is what I have been managing to do.

I think the win against Alcaraz in quarters of Australian Open, to win quarters against Zverev tonight proves to myself and others that I can still play on the highest level, and I just thrive on these occasions.

This is where I kind of lock in and really give my best. So, yeah, I just hope that I will be able to physically keep up, you know, with Sinner in few days' time. It's a big challenge for me.

It's only going to get tougher, but it's good. It is how it's supposed to be, you know, at the highest Grand Slam level.

Q. To sort of follow on to that, how much of this has also been a result of winning the 100th title and like a ton of bricks off your shoulders with that? And then, if you could also look ahead to playing Jannik.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I mean, it definitely helped my confidence level, you know, and my game. In terms of obviously getting higher confidence level, reflects positively on the game, and then you start playing better as you go along, which is logical to expect if you start winning.

I still think, I believe that my game would still be good even if I didn't play Geneva and I came directly here because, as I said, I thrive on Grand Slams and manage to play the best tennis always.

But nevertheless, it was good decision to go to Geneva. So of course, the 100th win and the way I won the tournament definitely helped me mentally approach Roland Garros in a better way.

And Jannik... well, Jannik is in tremendous form, and he has been the best player for the last couple of years, deservedly. He's been playing some terrific tennis, attacking tennis, and just super strong from every aspect of his game.

I haven't played him now in quite some time, and, you know, we always had some exciting matches. At one point I think we played three, four matches in a very short amount of time on hard court, but I don't think -- we played maybe once I think on clay in Monte-Carlo years ago.

Yeah, it's going to be of course semifinals of a Grand Slam against the No. 1 in the world. There is no bigger occasion for me, so I'll try to do my best to step it up and perform as well as I did tonight.

Q. Just wondering, Jannik's put up some lopsided scorelines in previous rounds. You have had a long career. You've run into many players sort of on fire. Do you have a basic way you know how to stop someone who is sort of a runaway train when you are playing someone who is at that kind of level, running away from the field, how to reel them in?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes and no, I guess. It really depends on the given day and how you feel on the court. I know what to expect from Jannik.

He's going to come out. He's going to play on a very high level, as he did basically every tournament that he played in the last year and a half. I don't expect anything less from him.

But these kind of matchups and challenges in a way extract the best out of me. You know, playing best-of-five, you know, late stages of a Grand Slam against No. 1 in the world is, you know, you can't get more motivated than that for me at this age.

That's how I see it now. How am I going to stop him? I don't think about that. I think about how am I going to execute what I want on the court and feel how I want to feel. That's where my thoughts are going.

Of course I'm going to sit with my team tomorrow and think about it, work on the practice court a little bit on specifics that will be the case when I play Jannik. I'll do my best to get ready.