Novak Djokovic, the world number one and newly crowned champion for the seventh time at the ATP Finals in Turin, makes his debut this Thursday in the Davis Cup quarter-finals against Cameron Norrie. The Serb, who wants to cap the season with the title in the top competition for countries, sits down with MARCA to talk about his career, his goals and rivalry with the other two members of the Big Three.
You are the record man in tennis, what is the next record you have in mind to beat?
That’s a good question. Probably the record for most titles. I want to win as many tournaments as possible and pass Connors. There are always records on the horizon that can be broken. Likewise, I want to have my own records and my own history, that’s the most important thing. To win the big titles, I have to maintain the level of intensity, dedication and motivation.
Juan Carlos Ferrero, coach of Carlos Alcaraz, says that his pupil has to learn from you in terms of professionalism, in living by and for tennis.
It’s nice that he says that about me. I have a lot of respect for Ferrero, starting from the fact that he was number one. I was always impressed by how professional he was and the seriousness with which he dedicated himself to tennis. It is obvious that he has helped Alcaraz a lot not only to achieve success but also to maintain humility and a champion’s mentality. Thanks to Juan Carlos and his family’s upbringing, he is more mature than his age suggests. He is only 20 years old, but on the track he behaves like someone who has a lot of experience and maturity.
Alcaraz has been the only one to have beaten you this year on a big stage. Do you think that makes the fact that you were in front of him in the Wimbledon final even greater?
It would be a question for Carlos, but I have no pangs of conscience. I try to look ahead and in all the great finals that I have lost there is always a reason. I try to learn from it and the experience of losing a Grand Slam final motivates me even more. I lost at Wimbledon and since then I have won everything except for the match with Sinner in the group stage in Turin. If I analyse the year, I could say that it was good to lose to Carlos because it motivated me for the rest of the season.
You have commented several times that you cannot be friends with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer for the simple reason that they are your two great rivals. Do you think they are happy that you beat all their records and all the records?
It’s true that we can’t be friends because with friends you talk about everything, the good, the bad, your secrets. With your rivals I don’t think you feel very comfortable revealing all that. In the last 15 years I have seen more of Nadal and Federer than my parents. That means they have been a very important part of my life and my career. I have incredible respect for them and for the rivalry we’ve had for so long. It’s been a long journey together and when we hang up our racquets we’ll look at it in a more relaxed way.
Nadal confirmed that he is back next year. You said you would love one last match with him. Is there anywhere in particular you would like to play?
I think a lot of people would like it to be at Roland Garros. Why not? Although if you give me a choice I would say anywhere else. Roland Garros wouldn’t be bad, but Nadal is the player who has won there the most times in the history of the tournament. I think anywhere would be amazing for us and for the tennis world. It would be kind of like a last dance. I don’t know how many more times we’ll have the chance to play each other or if we’re going to play each other. I hope we do because that’s what everybody wants and I do too.
If someone comes to you with a piece of paper and says: if you play until you’re 50, you’ll equal or beat Nadal’s French Open titles, will you sign it?
I don’t know, I’m sure my wife wouldn’t be very happy. I am very satisfied with everything I have achieved. I do not have to look at Rafa’s record in Paris. I have many that I’m proud of and that are part of history. If I were to retire right now, I could only be happy and proud of what I’ve done.
You left the door open the other day to winning all four majors and the Olympics in 2024. Is it realistic to think about the Golden Slam at the age of 37?
Was it realistic to think I would win three of the four Grand Slams this year? Five years ago or even one or two years ago, I don’t think people thought that was possible. I know myself and I know that if I feel good physically and mentally I’m capable of doing it. I don’t want to sound disrespectful to my opponents. I know there are thousands of players fighting for the same goal, but I know who I am and I believe in myself.
You are one Olympic gold short of the medal you need to complete your honours list. Is the biggest challenge for next season a podium finish on the Roland Garros clay?
It’s going to be a strange feeling for me to play the Games at the Roland Garros. It will be similar to the feeling I had in 2012, when it was at Wimbledon. I think it was the first and the last time it was played there with coloured shirts and not the white ones. The Games are a very special competition. I love the Olympic village, I love the opening ceremony, the feeling of representing my country in the most important event in the world of sport. It is not an easy tournament for tennis players because we have a very tight schedule. From Roland Garros we go to grass and then again to clay. Then comes hard court in a short period of time, but I’m ready for the challenge. I hope to be healthy enough to compete in Paris at my best level and try to win the Olympic gold.
How would you like to be remembered the day you officially say goodbye to the sport of racquetball?
Apart from the records, I would like to leave a legacy for those to come. I would like to be remembered as someone who used the platform that tennis allows me and my status to help other players so that more can make a living from the racquet.
