THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2025

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/D. Evans

6-3, 6-2, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Novak, great match out there. Give us your thoughts on your performance.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I'm very, very pleased with the performance. From the very first point of the get-go, I was really sharp. I didn't really want to give Dan a chance to come back to the match. I really tried to pressure him constantly from the back of the court.

I think serving, I served very well and very accurately, opening up the court. Every shot today worked very well. So it was great to feel that way and play that way.

Obviously crowd wanted more of a match. They were trying to back him up in the third. I felt like the early break in that set, and also in the second, just helps gain the momentum and not really allow the energy to kind of shift to his end.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Thinking back a year ago when you'd had the surgery coming into this tournament, in every press conference we ended up talking about that.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah.

Q. How much different do you feel now compared to the same stage last year?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It's true that last year, particularly in the early rounds, I was still doubting whether the knee will hold up or whether I was able to slide or do my movement as freely as I want.

There is difference in that. This year I'm not, obviously, thinking about the knee, neither do I have any other major physical issue to think about in that sense. Of course, there's always something every day that you address minorly.

Overall body's in a very good shape.

Q. You were talking about your health. A couple nights ago you were a completely different person to today. How have the last couple days been for you? Also, a word about how Dan performed today and your thoughts on the plans to transform Wimbledon. If they do not go ahead, will Wimbledon still be able to be at the pinnacle of the sport?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: That's three questions. Let's start (smiling).

Well, couple nights ago we finished very late. Obviously, I did have some stomach issues that really affected, also, the way I felt on the court.

Today obviously, completely different story. I felt great from the start till the end. As I explained in my previous answer, I played almost flawless tennis, that always is very welcomed in the Grand Slams or anywhere you play. Of course, it's a great joy to be able to feel that way on the court.

In terms of Dan's performance, I knew that he's going to keep on fighting and believing that he can come back into the match, which he has done. Two sets to love and 4-Love down, he was still shouting C'mon after winning a point, trying to get the crowd involved, which is normal. He was really doing his best. I saw that he was also moving slower, maybe, in the third set. I don't know if he had something physically bothering him.

But I think I've done everything the right way, even better than I expected, to be honest. I didn't really give him a chance to play good tennis because I was really sharp in every element, segment of my game.

In terms of expansion of Wimbledon, I think we talked about it last year. I personally am sad to see this hasn't been resolved yet. I'm very supportive of that. It's great for the community, for London, for our sport.

I don't know all the details of the project, but I've seen a little bit and have talked with the main people of this club. To me, it seems like a project, it's a win-win, to be honest.

If it doesn't go through, it will be a shame. At the same time, I don't think it can negatively, greatly negatively, impact Wimbledon and what Wimbledon represents to our sport. I think Wimbledon, as it is already, is a sacred tournament, a tournament that everybody wants to win or play in.

This is only a bonus. It's something that will get it to even a higher level of recognition.

Q. The quality of balls has been a topic on the tour the last couple years. Some players say they deteriorate more, fluff up more. I'm curious about your thoughts. You're probably in a better position to understand how they've changed over a long period of time.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, yeah, honestly, that's probably the biggest difference I can notice, comparing to maybe 10, 15 years ago. It's the balls. The Slazenger balls here used in Wimbledon are good-quality balls, but they do fluff up earlier or sooner than the ones that we used 10 years ago or 15 years ago.

I don't know whether it's related to the manufacturing facility production of the balls or whether it is something in place there that changed. I don't think it's the grass.

I think there is consistency with the way Wimbledon prepares grass courts. I would doubt that there is any big changes there, to be honest. I think it's just balls that are, yeah, slowing the game down to some extent.

It's allowing the players whose game is based on the baseline, play with a lot of spin, to be able to, yeah, play good tennis and make good performances and success here in Wimbledon or other grass court tournaments that wasn't maybe the case before.

Still grass remains the fastest surface in our sport. You still get quite a few more points, free points, on the first serve. If you're serving well, you still get rewarded.

But it is true that it's easier to play from the baseline nowadays than was the case early in my career.

Q. After the match, Dan said he's not sure how many more occasions like today he's going to have. You were talking about you're not ready for Margaritas with Roger and Rafa yet on the beach. Can you expand on that lovely mental image a bit and talk about how much confidence a performance like today gives you that you can do something very special?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't know why I said Margaritas because I never had a Margarita in my life. I don't necessarily like that drink, but I guess it sounds good (smiling).

I do imagine that particularly the three of us, I mean, I do wish that one day we'll, in a more relaxed environment, reflect on the rivalries and everything that we've achieved and made for this sport. I think it would be great for us, and I think for all the other people knowing that we got together, so...

As far as Evans' future, I'm not sure. Obviously, I don't know what's on his mind. But I saw some of the interviews where he got more emotional before the Wimbledon started.

Look, it's not easy out there to fight and grind and build your ranking and try to be as highly ranked as you were before. In his case, if you're not able to move as well as you've done before, you still feel it in your hands, but maybe your body's not giving you that speed and agility that you are looking for or that you had for many years.

I'm just making things up here. I don't know exactly what's going on with Dan.

Q. A performance like you had today, do you still believe you can do something special this fortnight?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, if I play like today, I feel like I have a very good chance against anybody, really, on the Centre Court of Wimbledon, a place where I maybe feel the most comfortable on any court. Rod Laver Arena and Wimbledon Centre Court are the two courts where I've done so well throughout my career.

I felt great physically, mentally sharp. Game-wise, I'm playing as well as I can, really, on grass. So hopefully I can keep it up. I met Gael Monfils in the locker room. He was waiting for his match. He kind of smiled at me and said, Good day in the office. At this age, he said, We need those types of days.

Of course, it's great. You want to keep on playing this way. It can be only one day, one match. Tomorrow or in two days can be a different story. I don't know. I'm trying to be cautious and keep it going.

But yeah, aspirations and objectives are very high to go all the way.

Q. It's a question about your celebration. I know that the other day you answered in Serbian about it. It's something with your kids.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah.

Q. Some songs.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah.

Q. There is speculation that this pumping gesture is potentially a political one. Can you clarify that for us, please?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: As I mentioned to the Serbian journalists, it's something between me and my children. We have a song, it's called 'Pump It Up'. I don't know how many of you guys know that. It's quite an old song. Good rhythm.

So yeah, we're pumping. We love pumping. We pump after every win. I don't know the name of the artist. 'Don't you know, pump it up, you got to pump it up' (singing). Disco song.