Novak Djokovic: “I am different than three years ago”

Novak Djokovic has turned around his 2018 season like a boomerang making its eventual turn. The Serbian stunned everyone with his performances at the Wimbledon Championships as well as the US Open. Now he has the opportunity to end the year on a high, by performing well at the remaining tournaments of the year, before he heads off to a short break and then starts his preparation for the Australian Open.

Djokovic revealed that a hiking trip with his wive after the French Open changed his attitude and mentality and instilled some confidence within him. “It’s a moment after losing in Roland Garros, when I took four, five days with my wife and went to hiking and stayed in nature”, said Djokovic. “After that, everything went well. I played Queens’ Finals, won Wimbledon, Cincinnati and the US Open and it’s a big run. I am grateful for this.”

“In the first few months after the operation, I had difficulty on the court. I had to make some adjustments, especially the service”, said the US Open champion. “I changed the racket at the end of last year. When you lose more matches than you win, and when you change the racket and the team, then you are wondering if all of these moves are correct and you have dilemmas.”

Djokovic was asked if he feels confident enough to hold all the slam titles- a feat which he had achieved during the 2015-16 seasons. Djokovic says that despite the changes that have undergone within him he still has the belief and the confidence to achieve that feat. “I am a different player and person, than I was three years ago”, says Novak. “I know that everyone wants to use the 2015 parameter as a benchmark for all the other seasons and to ask if it’s possible to repeat something like that, for four in a row.”

“Do I believe that I can repeat that success? Of course I believe, otherwise I would not play tennis”, said Djokovic. “I have confidence. It’s some old-new self-confidence. Each season is a new site and a new challenge”, added the world number three. The Serbian will feature in this week’s Shanghai Masters 1000 along side Roger Federer and other big names. Rafael Nadal has chosen to opt out of the remainder of the Asian Swing, citing fatigue and knee related issues.