Ethe Serbian Novak Djokovic recognized after to be crowned champion of the Masters 1,000 in Rome that Rafael Nadal “is the greatest opponent” of his career.
Djokovic is clear about it, the manager is his biggest rival, the only one who has won a Grand Slam more than him (21). The Serbian arrives at Roland Garros in a great state of form and has shown it on the Italian clay, where he has not given up a set and in which he has imposed on the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-0 and 7-6 (5)) to be crowned for the sixth time in the Italian capital.
“We are always competing. Federer and Nadal have always been there, but for me Nadal is the greatest opponent of my career. I have grown as a player because he has pushed me to do so,” he declared at the press conference after the final. .
In addition, he confessed that he is not thinking of retiring at the moment: “I don’t feel close to the end of my career, age is just a number.”
I don’t feel near the end of my career, age is just a number
The victory has relieved the Serbian after a start to the year in which he has been more involved in controversy than in tennis: “Winning is a relief, honestly, after what has happened since the beginning of the year (when he could not participate at the Australian Open for not being vaccinated against covid). It is important to win a big title before a ‘Grand Slam’ and thus regain confidence to have a chance of winning in Paris“.
“Historically, I have always found my strength here in Rome. I couldn’t have had a better week. I trusted the process, I made a perfect first set in the final and I haven’t dropped a single set in the tournament“, go.
“On land I need more time, it’s always been that way. I usually get the peak of form here in Romealways with good weeks of tennis, something perfect for the preparation of Roland Garros”, he explained.
The defeat against Alcaraz
On whether he is the favorite in the French ‘Grand Slam’, he said: “I think I have had good performances in Madrid, Alcaraz deserved to win. I could not have imagined a better path to Roland Garros, it was still not so defined in those key moments but here (Rome) has ‘clicked’ and I am going to Paris with all the confidence“.
“Taking into account the rankings and others, I am one of the favorites, but I do not think about that, I go with ambition after seeing my level. Then we will have to see the table. The ‘Grand Slams’ are different, you have to approach them differently, but I think I can go far“he pointed out
Taking into account the rankings and so on, I’m one of the favorites in Paris, but I don’t think about that, I’m going with ambition after seeing my level
‘Nole’ spoke of the sanction against Russian and Belarusian athletes, who will not be able to compete at Wimbledon, a decision he does not share.
“No one wins in war, athletes are here to play sports, it’s a tough decision and I don’t agree. Of course, boycotting Wimbledon is something very hard too and I don’t agree with that either,” he said.
“I support the union of the players, being together and giving a strong message. It is difficult because it is an individual sport with individual interests, but it would be ideal. There is no organization that represents 100% of the players. There are players who are neutral, I respect their decision, but personally I think there are situations in which you have to take a step forward and be together,” he said.
Milan supporter
The man from Belgrade, a Milan fan, also had time to talk about football: “I always get emotional when I talk about Milan. I’ve been a Milan fan since I was little, my father is a ‘rossonero’ too. We hope to get the ‘Scudetto'”.
“Ibra (Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Milan’s Swedish striker), who is extraordinary, is an inspiration with almost 40 years playing,” he said.
