THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 9, 2025

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/F. Cobolli

6-7, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Great performance. Give us your initial thoughts.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, it was a very good battle. Credit to him for playing very well for I think entire match and serving great.

He did surprise me. I didn't expect him to serve that well. At some parts of the match just serving so good that I wasn't to kind of read his serve or attack his serve.

Just huge improvement from him I think in the last six months since the last time I faced him in Shanghai. Well, the results are showing his improvement. He's in quarters of the Grand Slam for the first time. I told him at the net to keep going.

Bright future is ahead of him for sure if he keeps going this way.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You kind of joked a little bit about being the old guy against the young guys out here. In what ways do you relish going up against the kids? Are there specific things you work on with an eye to trying to get the better of specifically Jannik and Carlos?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I wasn't joking actually. It's fact, you know? Just way older than them. I was also saying on the court that that motivates me to see how much can I still keep going with these guys toe to toe.

I lost straight sets to Jannik in the semis of Roland Garros. I think I played a solid match. I could have played better, but he was just better player when the moments were important.

So I get another opportunity. For me, this is what counts actually the most... Being in the last stages of Grand Slams and playing against the best player in the world right now. Him next to Alcaraz are the leaders of the tennis today, men's tennis.

Yeah, couldn't ask for a bigger challenge, for sure, for myself. I look forward to it. I'll do my best to get ready and perform my best there.

Q. Just about your next match against Jannik, what do you expect from that? You had also this kind of issue the very last stint of your match today. Also, he has another issue at his arm. What kind of match do you expect?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't expect anything, to be honest. I just try to focus on my recovery right now, getting my body in shape for very physical battle.

Hopefully I can deliver the level and be able to stay with him for potentially five sets, because that's... Yeah, it's going to take the best of me at the moment to beat Jannik. I mean, I know that.

So that's the only thing I'm thinking about right now, just getting myself physically and mentally in the right state so I can fight with him for as long as it's necessary.

Q. Every time the Queen comes here to Wimbledon, you always win. Just wondering what did you say to each other before your match today?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I prefer not sharing that. It's private. We had a nice exchange. I was actually surprised with her comment and a question that she asked. It was non-tennis related. She was very pleasant. Very, very pleasant.

Of course, it's a great honor and privilege for me to be able to shake hands with Queen of England. I've had that honor, as well, 2010 with the late Queen Elizabeth.

It's obviously a phenomenal occasion for Wimbledon to host the Royal Family. Wimbledon has been traditionally attracting Royal Family. It's beautiful to see there's still an interest for our sport. Of course, it's important for all of us.

Q. I'm working on a story about one of the most famous images of your Wimbledon history, which is this one, which you were down championship points. You recognize this.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Of course. Seen it many times (smiling).

Q. What are your thoughts when you look at this picture?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Look, I mean, I haven't seen it when I was playing on the court, but I know exactly when it happened because lots of my fans have been sharing, reposting that picture. They still do after, whatever, six years.

Yeah, I mean, look, obviously remembering 2019 finals is very positive for me because I won it, coming back from two match points down.

I can't really - how can I say - use that photo as the main reference of the match. That means that I'll be poking a finger in someone's eyes, but I do understand why my fans are sharing that (smiling).

It's okay. In the heat of the battle, those things happen. He was one point away, so... It didn't happen. It's sport.

Q. I talked to her today. She's rooting for you.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: You talked with her today? She's rooting for me now? Wow, okay, that's a nice turnaround. Very thankful for that.

Q. We saw an image in the last game that looked unbelievably painful. How much did that hurt? You are two matches away from the 25th Grand Slam title, all-time record. Is that a motivation?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Of course, it is motivation. It's a given. In a sense, for me to feel the significance of the moment, we don't even need to talk about it. Of course, I am aware of getting myself in a position to play semis against the best player in the world.

Now, in terms of the fall, it was a nasty fall. It was very awkward. That happens on the grass. I've had quite a few of those throughout my grass court career.

Obviously, body is not the same today like it was before, so I guess the real impact or effect of what happened I will feel tomorrow. So let's see. I'm hoping the next 24, 48 hours that the severity of what was happening on the court and what happened is not too bad, that I'll be able to play at my best and free of pain in two days.

Q. When you dig into the numbers, how are your stats, whether it's movement, position at the baseline, the force of your groundstrokes, how do they compare to two, three, four years ago? Do you think you're not far away from peak Djokovic, whatever that may be?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I mean, I am pleased with the way I'm playing. I've done my very best in weeks prior to Wimbledon to get myself ready. Can I do more than this in terms of preparation, in terms of getting myself even to a higher level? I don't know, maybe.

I have about 10 people in my team daily working on every single aspect of my on-court, off-court career and preparation and recovery. Sometimes I get tired of all the chores that I have to do on a daily basis to get my body ready to be able to perform. It's a lot of hours, a lot of hours spent off the court, in the gym, or on the table just trying to work with what I have.

Look, I'm very satisfied as a 38-year-old to be able to move the way I'm doing, that I'm moving right now and playing, so...

It is and it has always been my greatest goal to do well in slams. I'm, again, in another great position. Let's see. Sinner and Alcaraz, we know they're the dominant force right now in the tennis. If I want to at least go step further, I have to beat the No. 1 in the world and eventually play Alcaraz in the final.

Physically I hope that I'll be able to sustain that. That's more of a concern than a game-wise. I think game-wise the way I'm feeling the ball when I'm fit and ready, I feel like I can go toe to toe with those guys and even beat them if I'm playing my best.