[shuhrat]

Beijing QF : N. DJOKOVIC/J. Isner 7-6, 6-2

Q. Compared to the last time you competed with John Isner, do you feel any difference?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: We had played only once in Davis Cup, five sets. It was the first time I played him, so I had a tough time reading his serve.
Here I felt more comfortable returning, especially in that second set. You know, if you start the match with a break down and playing against one of the best servers in the game, makes you really frustrated. You don't get a lot of chances, but surprisingly, I returned and played well on these return games and had a lot of opportunities throughout the whole match and used them when I needed to. Just happy to get through this one.

Q. Statisticians tell us that with the win you qualify for London. Is that good to have that out of your mind going into the final and then into Shanghai?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, it's definitely a relief and great to hear that news. It's four consecutive years, so this is a crown for my achievements, you know, and I'm definitely satisfied with my consistency on the tour. I have had lots of success in last three, four years, so I think, you know, I deserve to be there.
Of course I will do my best to get even further than I did last year to try to pass the group stage, but there's still a lot of time up to the finals in London. Still have some important events to go.

Q. At the end of the match you shouted something into the audience, and just out of curiosity, what was it that you shouted?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It was a song that I was singing. I think you noticed there was a Serbian song played on the... So, yeah, that was it.

Q. What was the song? What were the words?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Are you from Reuters?

Q. Yes.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No comment for you.

Q. How difficult is it when you're torn between the need to qualify for something or the desire to qualify for something and also the need to conserve energy at the same time? It's a very difficult sort of puzzle to work out, isn't it, when you're playing out there?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Oh, well, you know, it's not the easiest thing playing against a guy who serves 205, 210 kilometers per hour and average the first serves in with that much precision.
I definitely knew that the key of today's match was to return well, and yet again to get him into the longer rallies, because that's where my chance is. I didn't allow him to get into the court, get to the net, take the control.
So I was trying to, you know, play aggressive from the baseline as much as I can. I did. You know, I won in the straight sets. I have enough energy for the final. Definitely for upcoming week I feel fresh, I feel confident. Just keep on going.

Q. Your next opponent in the final would be Ljubicic or Ferrer. I won't ask you to choose. Just share some thoughts on them as a player, Ljubicic or Ferrer.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Look, you know, Ljubicic showed some great quality last night against Murray, and throughout the whole tournament he's been winning against good players. If he serves well, he can be as good as to beat anybody on this court, so he's very dangerous.
The other hand you have David Ferrer who has been so consistent in last couple of years, and now he's playing much better on the hard courts. Obviously his most preferred surface is clay, but, you know, he's just great, you know. He doesn't give you a lot of unforced errors, so it's interesting match tonight.
I don't have any preference, to be honest. Regardless who I play, I just need to perform the game that I perform throughout the whole tournament and think I have a good chance.

Q. I noticed that this morning when you were practicing, your training partner was wearing the same shirt as John did in the game. Was he asked to do so in order to simulate your game, or it's just a coincidence?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Actually, yes. I mean, he wore that shirt from the start of the tournament, and the socks were the same, as well, because when John serves and jumps, you know, I see the way his socks are standing where he's gonna serve, so that's what I did with my -- I mean, come on. (Laughter.)
No, there's nothing true about that. I mean, I'm practicing with a very promising young talent from China. He's 15 years old. He's taller than me. He's a great player.
I just got told from my coach that he moved his flight - he was supposed to fly before the finals tomorrow - so he can warm me up tomorrow for the finals. Great guy. I mean, you guys have a very nice future in front of you in tennis as far as I see. I mean, next to him, there is couple of more juniors that are playing some great tennis. I have been practicing with them throughout this week, and, you know, if they continue like this, you're gonna have top 10 player in the future, for sure.

[Lee]

So Nole evolves to "I am a nice guy as long as you didn't cross me"

[Amber Spyglass]

He was right.The journo asked him the question and he made some light jokes on the subject,nothing critical at all really and then reuters produces an article like "Djokovic slams Beijing" No point answering people who are going to take your words out of context...

[Noleta]

Feisty Nole

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Amber Spyglass

He was right.The journo asked him the question and he made some light jokes on the subject,nothing critical at all really and then reuters produces an article like "Djokovic slams Beijing" No point answering people who are going to take your words out of context...

Please don't take my comment in a negative way. Nole has been trying to please everyone so many years and it's a good thing that he smacks someone back when he's crossed.

[Amber Spyglass]

Originally Posted by Lee

Please don't take my comment in a negative way. Nole has been trying to please everyone so many years and it's a good thing that he smacks someone back when he's crossed.

Oh no I wasn't, sorry if it came across that way.I was just commenting anyway on what Pica had posted

[Naina]

I like bitchy Nole

[Nole fan]

But why was he bitchy? did i miss something here¿ sorry i've been away these last two days... what is that thing with Reuters?

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Nole fan

But why was he bitchy? did i miss something here¿ sorry i've been away these last two days... what is that thing with Reuters?

Read the first link in pica pica's post and then Nole's press conference in the next post.

[Nole fan]

Oh ok i get it now. But i don't think the Reuters article was bad. If it draws international attention to the severe problem of pollution in China, that's always good.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Nole fan

Oh ok i get it now. But i don't think the Reuters article was bad. If it draws international attention to the severe problem of pollution in China, that's always good.

The pollution problem in China is well known. Remember the Olympics? If they want to make an issue about the pollution problem, Reuter should take a picture of the tournament and comment about the air quality, not to take Nole's press conference out of context and use that to make a point. It's not fair for Djokovic as that's not his intention. ST and Nole tries to open/broaden the market in China and if the Chinese government blames Nole, it will afffect his and his sponsors business in China.

As a worldwide news agency, Reuter does a terrible job with this.

[Nole fan]

Originally Posted by Lee

The pollution problem in China is well known. Remember the Olympics? If they want to make an issue about the pollution problem, Reuter should take a picture of the tournament and comment about the air quality, not to take Nole's press conference out of context and use that to make a point. It's not fair for Djokovic as that's not his intention. ST and Nole tries to open/broaden the market in China and if the Chinese government blames Nole, it will afffect his and his sponsors business in China.

As a worldwide news agency, Reuter does a terrible job with this.

well, I understand that. But if you read the comments on the article, seems that people is very happy that Nole made those comments. but I agree it's bad journalism.

[Björki]

Bob Bryan Epic hour long jam with Novak & Mirnyi in the players' music room. Novak & karaoke is like bread & butter. He'll be my wedding singer.

[shuhrat]

Originally Posted by Björki

Bob, you should be more careful with what you say.


DJOKOVIC's Pre-Match Press Conference
http://www.shanghaimasters1000.com/E...ws/50/379.html



Q. The boring first question. Obviously a great week last week. How do you feel physically and emotionally after that coming into yet another Masters, big tournament?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, must be satisfying definitely winning another event as big as is Beijing. I mean, if you just look at the draw, I must tell you that it's been extremely strong draw with a lot of top 20 players playing in that event. So to be able to come up with a trophy from that event, without dropping a set, is a big success. Right now emotionally I'm confident, I'm happy, and looking forward to upcoming challenges. Definitely I will do my best to get as far as I can in this week.

Q. You said you enjoy challenges. Do you think it's a disadvantage that you came here late or maybe you have a boost in your confidence by winning Beijing?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I don't think it's going to be a big disadvantage because I have experienced that before: winning one week and then getting on to the tournament just the week after. I did that last year when I won Beijing and played semifinals here. I felt good. So there is no reason for me to believe that it's gonna be a disadvantage in my game. To be honest, as I said, I feel good mentally and physically. I didn't spend that much energy in Beijing. I'm sure I'll be fit and ready.

Q. Our photographer is sick but came here because of you. Can you tell her something?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, thank you for coming. I'm flattered. Appreciate that.

Q. We know there was a heavy rain delay in the China Open. It's about to rain in Shanghai. What do you expect, rain or no rain? You won in Beijing after the rain delay.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I'm not the weatherman. I'm not working for the forecast. I can't really say what am I expecting. I'm expecting to play, to be honest. And the weather is taken care of by God. He's going to give us some good weather, I hope.

Q. After Roger got married and had the twin daughters, he stays down. Is this a suggestion to you that you should get married when you're retired?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Thank you for the suggestion. I'll think about it (laughter).

Q. Rafa obviously has a really hotspot right now winning the US Open and Tokyo. He said the main goal for him for the rest of the season is to win the finals in London. Do you think the other players at this stage can stop him winning again almost everything?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Are you sure he said that (smiling)?

Q. Yes.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Okay, if you say so. He's definitely the best in the world. He has proven that by winning three out of four Grand Slams, seven or eight titles this year. He deserves to be the No. 1 of the world.
We are all trying to play as best as we can and eventually challenge him if we have opportunity. Obviously, it's many more tournaments to come up to the end of the year. World Tour Finals in London is the most important event for me next to Davis Cup final, which is very special at this stage because, you know, you're not playing Davis Cup final every year. My country is really living for that weekend. That's one of my priorities, to try to win the title there.

Q. One thing that Rafael definitely did say is he would like to see some changes to the calendar. I know it's a very deep and long subject, but you are on the council.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Not anymore.

Q. Maybe if you could give us a short impression, if you could wave a magic wand and get the calendar you would like, I know it's tough, but what would be your starting point and what would you hope to end that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Let's not get into the details too much. You don't want to hear if I wave with a magic wand what would happen. I would make some radical changes. But it's okay.
Anyway, it's a very complicated and sensitive task. You have to satisfy and consider two sides: tournaments and players, obviously. It's not easy because players have their own demands, and tournaments have their own demands. So to make the fine line between those two parties is what we are trying to do.
Well, even though I'm not on the council, I'm still trying to participate in some decision making. It's good that we have top players leading the council. It's good that you have most of the top players involved in those questions, in those changes, because there's something that needs to be done.
We need to have the shorter schedule. That's the clear point about the last couple of years. You see more and more players, top players, getting injured. That's not what this sport wants. I think ATP leadership right now is doing a good job. We are finding solutions. But it takes time. So probably the 2012 is the earliest that we can get some changes, some shorter schedule. But, you know, as I said, it's not the simplest thing in the world.

Q. After you won your first Grand Slam, it seems you lost yourself for a long time. One month ago you reached the US Open final, but you lost to Rafa. I want to know, are you really ready to win your second Grand Slam title?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I'm ready. Definitely, I am. For the last two years I've been ready. You know, if the good day comes, it comes. I had the opportunity against Rafa in New York. But he was just too good in that match. In the whole tournament he was playing the best tennis I've seen him play on the hard courts. So he deserved to be a champion there.
I'm still only 23, so I have many years more to come. Hopefully if I'm physically and emotionally ready, you know, if I work hard, if I'm consistent throughout the whole year, I'm sure I'm gonna get another opportunity. I'll make sure I'll use it.

[Nole fan]

Great interview, specially the last question.