Novak Djokovic - 13.1.2013

TENNIS - Australian Open 2013: DJOKOVIC d. Mathieu 62 64 75

Q.  That was a very convincing win today.  Are you happy with your performance out on Rod Laver?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Yes, I am.  It was a good performance for a first round.  You know, I felt I was in control of the match in the opening two sets.  Then, you know, he started playing better, striking the ball quite well from both sides on the baseline.  I thought he was serving really precisely and really well.
It was tough to break.  But in the end, that 11th game, I made some good shots, good points, you know, managed to go through straight sets.

Q.  Can you give us an idea what sort of physical preparations you do in the offseason?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Well, unfortunately I can't give you too many details because I like to keep these things private and confidential.
But, you know, what I can say, we've been using the same kind of generally routines of preparations and exercises that we've been respecting for last five, six years, so it hasn't changed much.

Q.  Are you conscious on the physical preparation side of what your rivals are doing?  Do you know the details of what Andy Murray, for instance, is doing?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Well, no.  I mean, I don't know details, details.  I know generally what I've been seeing, and my team, obviously we are trying to be as informed as possible about everybody, you know, especially about their game.
At the start of the season you want to see how everybody's playing, how everybody's feeling, you know, how everybody confident is on the court or not.
It's the start of the season, so it still takes time to kind of get into that rhythm that you have to maintain throughout the whole year.  But we try to mostly focus on ourselves and then, you know, I guess the results will follow.

Q.  Has it become a competition within the competition?  This guy is doing this much, I have to do this much?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  There is an obvious evolution of the game in last five to ten years.  When I came on the tour first time, I remember there was not as much commitment and professionalism between the players, especially the ones that were a bit lower ranked, top 50, top 100.
Nowadays, competition is so strong and everybody is dedicated on a daytoday basis what they do, what they eat on and off the court, it makes the sport, the makes the players improve every single day.

Q.  What were the conditions like playing on Rod Laver today?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  I mean, it was quite breezy and quite cool weather.  It was not too warm.  It was really a nice day for playing tennis.
Melbourne is very unpredictable with the weather, as we all know.  It can be really hot and it can be also very cold in the night.  So depending on those conditions, you have to adjust your game.
So it was maybe a little bit faster today than it would be maybe in the night session.  But, I mean, I played many matches in Rod Laver, and I like that court.

Q.  What did you write on the camera lens?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  I tried to write, Aussie, Aussie.  The people either didn't see it or understand my writing.  Maybe I misspelled it (laughter).