Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, has spoken about the difficult phase he is currently experiencing in his career. The Serb has not won a match since the Miami Masters tournament in March.
– The past few months have been tough for you. How are you handling this new stage in your career?
– It`s a new chapter in my life. I`m trying to accept these new circumstances. I`m not accustomed to situations like two consecutive first-round exits [in Monte Carlo and Madrid]. It feels like this hasn`t happened to me in the last 20 years. But I knew such a moment could eventually arrive.
It`s hard for me to just sit back and reflect on what I`ve achieved in my career. Of course, I`m proud of it, but I still have the desire to win the biggest trophies, to compete for Grand Slam titles, to be one of the top players in the world. That`s why I`m here in Geneva, trying to do everything correctly to continue winning titles. I`m still fully motivated.
However, in this transitional period, I need to understand how my body works, what I need to do to stay healthy while being in peak physical condition and showing my best tennis at the majors. When I participate in competitions, I want to give my maximum effort, but Grand Slam tournaments remain the priority.
– How have you managed stress over so many years?
– It`s part of our profession. As Billie Jean King said, pressure is a privilege. It means that what we do matters. I can always rely on the support of my loved ones. Without that, I wouldn`t be able to maintain the necessary balance. I know what it takes to win Slams, to stay at the top. It`s a huge responsibility. It`s no longer as easy and simple as it was at the beginning of my career.
My life has changed, certainly for the better. I feel I still have the game to be a contender for Grand Slam titles. For me, that is still a significant motivation. Of course, I now have more ups and downs – this has been noticeable over the past year or eighteen months. Experiencing this is, naturally, not very pleasant, but that`s the reality – I must accept it. Perhaps I can no longer play consistently at the same level. No, not `perhaps` – I definitely cannot. I know that. But at the same time, I know how to prioritize.
