THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2026

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/A. Rinderknech

7-6, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Novak, good to get that wrapped up in four today.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes. We can start with questions.

THE MODERATOR: Who would like to ask the first question?

Q. A flawless tiebreaker. How did you reset yourself?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I think in tiebreak obviously it's kind of a situation where every point matters. So there's, I think, even more focus on every single point, trying to make a mini break.

Against Arthur, it was really difficult to return today because he was hitting his spots extremely well, particularly in the third and fourth. Didn't give me much rhythm. He was mixing up the pace.

But in the tiebreak I found my best serving, which helped a lot. Then I played couple of good points to do two mini breaks to wrap up the match.

It's really focusing on the present moment and what you can control. But yeah, a lot of tension, a lot of nerves on the court. It was hard to play.

For sure I was aware of the challenge that Arthur presents for me today. That's why on the court I didn't maybe feel I was kind of fluent. There was not much flow like against Tsitsipas in the match because I faced Arthur for the first time today. I was watching him play. I knew he was in good form. That made me a bit more tight, I think, in the match.

He played well. I thought he did all he could to take me out of the comfort zone. Was a tough match. But very relieved to overcome it in four.

Q. You've always used the slice very effectively on grass on your backhand side. Has it changed over the years in terms of how easy it is to be effective with it, given the grass, changes in technology?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: In terms of technology in which sense?

Q. With strings, passing shots, stuff like that...

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't know. I actually had quite a few conversations with players and their coaches in the last, you know, 12 months on different tournaments, talking about balls. We all agreed that since COVID something has changed. The production, manufacturing facilities in China that are used for basically all the big manufacturers of balls that we use on the tour, there was a change. No doubt.

There's some material, something that has changed that has affected the way ball reacts nowadays. These balls that we use on the tour, also on the slams, they get slower. They were definitely slower in average comparing to, say, if I go back 10, 15 years ago, which means that the slice maybe isn't staying as low as it was staying earlier.

It's still effective, no doubt, because it's grass. Obviously the surface gets worse every single day when you play on it. Lots of bad bounces. If you are able to hit some chip shots, short slices or whatnot, it's actually a very good play.

If you're not super natural with it, it's not so easy to demand that from yourself. It's super important variety that you should possess on the grass, no doubt.

Q. You were slapping your thigh at one change of ends, had some strapping on your shoulder. Wanted to check what sort of shape you're in.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Nothing major. Just trying to, I guess, wake my muscles up. Sometimes for some reason they shut down. Trying to lift my spirit, lift my energy. Sometimes it's this, sometimes it's something else, in terms of what I do to try to get myself going with energy.

But yeah, nothing major, to be honest. Body's feeling all right for the moment.

Q. Very entertaining match to watch today. A few dives. You had the bow to the crowd, kissed up to the sky. Has that always been something that's important to you, to entertain the crowd, an element of theater to the match?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, we are in the entertainment business, as well. I think in the end of the day, you try to bring the quality for the people that pay tickets to come and watch you with your tennis.

Also, I mean, for me at least, it was always trying to interact in one way or another with the crowd. Over the course of my career, I've had many exchanges with the crowd, good and bad.

Sometimes you have matches where you just try to switch everything and everyone off and not really pay attention. Sometimes if there is a proposal happening and you see it, I think it's a nice moment if you say a few words. They'll remember it for a long time. Like it happened in, I think, first or second match that I played.

Yeah, well, I mean, you're by yourself on the court, so there's a lot of emotions that you have to deal with and manage. Sometimes it's really hard to keep it all inside. Some are more expressive than others, I guess.

Q. In Paris you talked about the need for energy conservation. How do you feel here? How do you feel energy-wise now compared to then?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: For sure better, fresher. I mean, more energy now after three matches than I have had in Paris.

But it's also normal and logical to expect that, considering the difference in the surface and physicality of the points and the effort that has to go in every shot with spin and everything on clay, it's quite different here.

It doesn't mean that I'm not spending any energy on the court. Of course, I am. And the deeper I go into the tournament, obviously the less fresh I will be physically, but I'm trying to maintain that to an optimal level.

But as I said, no major issues. I'm feeling fine.

Q. There was a lot of long points today. You actually were able to be on the right side of those, him coming to the net and you lobbing him. How were you able to get on the right side of those?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, his variety was challenging for me, because we don't have too many players that are comfortable playing I guess equally well inside of the court, at the net, and also behind the baseline. He's quite an all-around player.

Considering his height, he moves well. He's got some interesting chip shots, from slices with the defense, the forehand, and the backhand. Obviously huge serve. He tosses it, he's a very tall guy, and he tosses it forward. He hits a 133-miles-per-hour serve. I haven't even returned the serve, and he's already at the net.

It's quite intimidating when you have somebody that big, serves big, comes to the net. He tries to take away the time from your shots. He tries to put you out of the comfort zone.

He's done well today with his tactics, no doubt. It was tough, just really tough match for me to play and tough player for me to face.

Yes, you're right, there were quite a few points that were cat-and-mouse type of exchange, but I expected that.

You could see already in the beginning, like, right from the start he played some dropshots in shots where it was a sitting duck, in a sense, forehand at the middle of the court where 99% of the players would maybe go for the winner and come to the net. He would be playing a dropshot. Then he comes in, then he pulls back. He has a variety on his first serve, second serve.

He was coming in, actually, quite a few times on his second serve, come to the net, serve and volley, which is surprising. He has played some terrific volleys that are really outstanding, honestly.

He's really, really crafty. He's really skillful from all over the court. Tough, tough player to face in the third round.

Q. The joy that you show at the end of these wins, how much is the fact that you have children that are of the age to be able to appreciate that? What kind of a reward is that?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: First of all, it's a relief that the match is done and I won. Then, of course, I made eye contact with my family - my children particularly - that were always very vocal also today. I can hear their voices. They're really giving their best to support daddy.

Last night I spoke to my daughter. She showed me couple of dances from this teenage pop groups and whatnot. So we try to work on the choreography. I mean, can't wait to go back home and ask her how I've done. Judging by her expression, it wasn't really super great (smiling).

This is my way of interacting with children after the match, kind of making them happy. These moments I try not to take for granted because they're very rare and special moments. Very blessed to be able to have my children watch me perform at the Centre Court of Wimbledon for many years now. They're aware of what's happening. They follow.

It's a blessing for me.