In some darkened and damp apartment in old Belgrade, two men in trench-coats were meeting.
One, a gypsy merchant selling relics and supposedly magical items for a living and the other, a tennis star, number four in the world - Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic shed his over-sized coat and got down to business.
Djokovic: Do you have it?
Merchant: Yes, of course. Did you bring the money?
Djokovic: Yes! Here, you can count it. It's all there.
Merchant: Thank you. Don't mind if I do.
Djokovic hands over the brief case and the merchant opens it up and starts "listening" to each thick wad of cash.
Merchant: Okay and now it is time to keep my part of the deal.
Djokovic: Let's see it.
The merchant produced a guitar shaped cover and unzipped it to show a golden tennis racket which did not cease to sparkle.
Merchant: "Made by the finest sorcerer in the Balkans. No one could match his craftsmanship nor his mystique touch."
Djokovic: I have heard so much and now I have it. (He swings the tennis scepter) The tennis world is now mine to rule.
Merchant: Before you go and enjoy your racket, there are some things you should know.
Djokovic: Oh and what is that? Is there something wrong with this racket? Because if there is, I want my money back.
Merchant: No, No! The racket is fine. It will take some getting use to but it will end up being part of you. It will enhance your swing, and it will send the ball where you mind wants it to go.
Djokovic: Excellent!! So what's the problem?
Merchant: Well there are two things. They both have to do with the sorcerer. First off, he died by the Spanish flu.
Therefore all of his creations are susceptible to anything Spanish. You may not have the greatest luck on any Spanish soil or against certain Spanish players. It is truly a Spanish curse.
Djokovic: Oh GREAT!! What else?
Merchant: The sorcerer lived a very humble life. The items he made reflect that humility. In order for this racket to work for you, you must show that same quality of what they call "humble pie".
Djokovic: Are you kidding me? Well, I could pretend.
Merchant: No, you cannot. You must have authentic humility or the racket's powers are useless.
Djokovic: Just one question.
Merchant: Yes?
Djokovic: You got any other tennis rackets with unconditional powers?
Merchant: No.
Djokovic: Oh ok.
Merchant: But I do have these magical blue sneakers which are designed to float on clay and concrete. It might offset the racket's shortcomings.
Djokovic: How much?
Merchant: 700 Euros
Djokovic: Deal! You got any t-shirts that turn invisible when I win a match?
Merchant: Uh, No!
Djokovic pumps his chest and points to the merchant and exits. The merchant shakes his head.
Merchant (to himself): Man, kids nowadays! Nothing is ever good enough. Good thing I did not sell him those Guaranteed-To-Win-Grand-Slam-Sweat-Bands!
Did you know that Cokes taste better in Madrid? I'm not talking about the Richard Gasquet kind of coke, but the U.S. symbol of all things corporate and peppy. Maybe it’s the vintage “Coca-Cola” label spelled out in cursive on the can. Maybe it’s because the recipe still calls for real sugar. Maybe Americans can only appreciate Americana when they find it somewhere else. Whatever the reason, a Coke sign caught my eye while I was walking past a small café next to the city’s elegant Retiro Park this past Saturday. Thirsty and leg-weary, I peaked inside and saw a very small room with a very large television. On it was a familiar sight: A yellow-sleeved Rafael Nadal and a blue-shoed Novak Djokovic slugging it out on red clay.
My girlfriend Julie and I ducked our heads in, ordered Cokes like Midwestern teenagers, and pulled up chairs. It was the third set, and it was clear that these two guys were in the midst of one of their customary side-to-side, up-and-back, corner-to-corner wars of shot-making attrition. It was also clear that Nadal was having an off day—his backhand was labored, his shots landed at the service line—but that he was caught up in the moment and wasn’t going to cave in.
Behind us sat three fellow tourists from the U.S., a mother with her teenage son and daughter. The boy was rooting for Djokovic, the girl for Nadal—why did this not surprise me? The five of us had the place to ourselves for a moment. I was just about to say that I’d yet to see any place in Madrid—bar, restaurant, shop, you name it—that was this quiet, that wasn’t vibrating with festive humanity. Before I could get the words out, the noise of laughter and chatter had suddenly filled the room, and a dozen or so young men and women were streaming through the door.
Spanish or not, anyone who has ever been to a wedding would recognize this crew. A marriage ceremony had just ended in a church around the corner, and these friends had escaped for a beer and a cig. The men stood a little awkwardly in dark suits and ties; the women sat down between them on stools, taking the opportunity to get off their feet. Everyone smoked and smiled and drank, and there was relief in the way they swayed a little as they faced each other in a semicircle.
They also watched Nadal, their countryman. In the time they stood in the café, his semi with Djokovic went from being just another entertaining slugfest—the third these guys have put on over the course of this clay season—to an all-time classic. Along with his Australian Open semifinal win over Fernando Verdasco, it’s the second one-for-the-books that Nadal has been involved in during 2009 alone. If he isn’t the best player in history, he may at least go down as the guy who played its best matches.
As the third set wound into its fourth hour and toward an inevitable tiebreaker, the wedding-goers’ conversation was repeatedly punctured by an “Ah!” or an “Oh!” or a “Si!” or a “Vamos!” or any number of other strange and involuntary blurtings that sports fans everywhere recognize as the sounds of impassioned disbelief. After each one, the group would stop talking and turn their heads toward the TV screen.
There they saw a heavyweight fight on dirt. Through dint of effort, Nadal had shrugged off his earlier constricted form and was swinging freely. If anything, Djokovic was even freer; he wasn’t stroking the ball, he was clubbing it, but his viciousness retained an elegance. The wedding party may have had a reception to attend, but there was no way they could leave now.
I have no notes from the match; I hadn’t even intended to watch it. But what could a few scribblings tell me about this one, anyway? What I remember thinking was that, more than usual, Nadal won it by doing anything he could. When he teared up at match point against Verdasco, Nadal went as far emotionally as you can go while a match is still going on. This time he went as far as you can go from a shot perspective—Nadal threw them all at Djokovic, and each improvisation led to something new and more confident as the match got tighter. The sliding backhand desperation moonball? That morphed into a ripped backhand crosscourt later. The short, overly spin-y forehand that he had going early? That became a heavy shot that he used to bludgeon and wear down Djokovic’s backhand. Finally, down match point in the tiebreaker, Nadal took a forehand at shoulder level from behind the baseline and hit a winner into the corner. After four hours, he'd peaked
The wedding-goers eventually stopped talking and just stared at the screen. Blue shoes or yellow sleeves, both guys—Djokovic exasperated but valiant, Nadal willing himself to believe the day could end with a victory and having come too far not to make it happen—commanded our attention. I mentioned a couple weeks ago that Nadal always allows himself to celebrate a win, no matter how early it is in a tournament. His celebration of this one, which he had manufactured for the home fans on an off day, could be set in stone—Nadal landed prone on the court, hands at full stretch above his head, his body as rigid as a statue. It was a just a semifinal, but by ignoring the future and treating it like a momentous occasion, one worth fighting for, one worth finding different ways to win, Nadal didn’t just give himself a chance to revel. He and Djokovic gave tennis fans, as well as a few wedding-goers making an escape, one more day to remember—as you can tell from this post, watching it was an indelible experience for me. No town likes a party more than Madrid, whatever the occasion, so it's fitting that in this city we saw a tennis match become more than just a thrill or a rush or a battle or a fight or even a spectacle. Nadal-Djokovic was a celebration of everything we call competition.
Posted: 21.05.09 12:12. Post subject: Roger Federer and No..
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic Make a Deal (Satire) At home in Serbia, Novak Djokovic relaxes on a couch with his laptop and goes through Roger Federer’s letter to Rafael Nadal, which has just been intercepted by an unknown news agency and is currently the breaking news.
After this, he decides to strike up a telephone conversation with Roger.
Djokovic calls up Federer.
Federer: Hello.
Djokovic: Hello Roger. Novak here. Congrats for the Madrid title!
Federer (sounding irritated): You? Look...if you think you have become too smart after "raining" shots at me in Rome...
Djokovic (interrupting Roger): Oh no! Just thought of calling you up and congratulating you since no call came from your side.
Federer (sounding surprised): From my side? Why on earth should I call a World No. 4?
Djokovic (with a chuckle): Aahh! I read that you yourself wrote to Rafa saying you need to thank me for doing you a favour...and you also thanked Rafa.
Federer (sounding completely shocked): What? How? Where did you read it?
Djokovic: No idea...some obscure, nameless news agency got hold of your letter.
Federer (sounding exasperated): What the hell! Damn those James Bond paparazzi! In any case, you know I played great, as always. My serves and forehands were superb as always. Uhh, I had to show that bit of humility to Rafa. You know that Rafa is a male Florence Nightingale!
Djokovic: Yeah, yeah, I understand. By the way, have you seen that exhibition event at the inauguration ceremony of the roof at Wimby?
Federer (sounding annoyed): Darn those stupid Wimby organizers! They should have known it would clash with my final. Anyway, caught it on YouTube.
Djokovic: Oh yeah, I forgot you were slogging while I was relaxing at home. You saw how green and fast the courts look and how Andre and Steffi feasted on the green grass. Aah! Steffi, how amazing she still looks...
Federer (interrupting Djokovic): Umm, yeah, okay. What were you saying?
Djokovic: Yeah, I was saying, do you fancy our chances against the "moonwalkers"? One can still volley a bit, but that No. 3 seems to have grown up without ever having seen a net in a court! And Roger, you are the master of serve and volley, and I, too, have improved volleying pretty much lately, so it should be easy. What do you say Roger?
Federer (sounding apprehensive): Ummm...uhh...but don't you think Rafa would drink gallons of Gatorade and would toss us like flying discs? You know at Melbourne I was chuckling that I had over two days of rest and he had just a 40-hour gap—still you saw what a sobbing wreck he turned me into?
Djokovic (sounding very cool): Chill, Roger. Gatorade cannot make one serve and volley like a Roger Federer!
Federer (breaking into a smile): Oh, thanks a lot!
Djokovic: My pleasure! Look, you desperately need that 14th, and I need to put an end to people calling me ''Chokovic'' because I have been losing finals like hell to those two moonwalkers!
Federer: Hmm, so?
Djokovic (sounding sheepish): So, what if we have a deal? I will defeat Rafa for you, which I believe I obviously can with my deft volleys, and you beat that Mr. Know-it-all No. 3 for me. When we face in the final, I will make sure you win your 14th!
Federer: Hmm, sounds pretty good, but what if we meet in the semis?
Djokovic: In that case I will be happy to give up my place for Roger, the great, than for that heartless human steamroller! Just need to teach that bulldozer a lesson ,and I have now practically given up hopes for Paris after all these flops. Gosh...those three match points. Uhh! It still hurts. So, is that a deal?
Federer: Yes, very much a deal. And by the way, you know you have been so nice to me, I need to wish you luck for Paris.
Djokovic (sounding relieved): Oh yes! Thanks and same to you. But remember the deal comes into effect only at Wimby!
Federer: Sure...
Rrringgg! At that moment, the alarm clock goes off. Poor Djoker realizes he had dozed off on the couch reading Roger’s letter. Frustrated as he is by his recent heartbreaking losses to Rafa and Andy and also being shoved down the rankings to No. 4, in spite of playing some brilliant stuff...he had only dreamt about a deal that never was...
Posted: 21.05.09 12:16. Post subject: The French Open Draw..
The French Open Draw: How crucial is it for Novak Djokovic? How ironic is it that Novak Djokovic has fallen to No.4 ranking at a time when he is playing some of the most spectacular tennis, arguably his best tennis post maiden Grand Slam win?
His game has improved lately by leaps and bounds, a barrage of topspin groundies strung together with immaculate serves and some delicate touches at the net are a common sight now from Djokovic’s racquet.
It’s a rejuvenated Nole now with confidence oozing and a farcry from the hapless figure falling prey to the demon called ‘’poor fitness’’ that we have got used to seeing for months and the betterment clearly gets reflected in his recent performances.
After a Monte-Carlo final where he shoved clay supremo Rafael Nadal to the 3rd set, an equally enthralling Rome finale and especially after a most heart-throbbing Madrid semi that included four hours of superlative tennis, it must be conceded that every tennis enthusiast did feel a bit disappointed for him.
With 3 match points, 37 winners to Rafa’s 31, 43 unforced errors to Rafa’s 50, 6 aces to Rafa’s 3, there’s not an iota of doubt that he has been way too close…perhaps the closest to toppling the numero uno ranked player.
Yet he had to submit in the face of tremendous opposition called Rafael Nadal for the third consecutive time on this particular surface this season, two of which have been Masters 1000 finals.
So does Rafa continue to be the only stumbling block for Djokovic’s success…a Djokovic that can even clobber Federer on clay with his continued array of shots? Has the imposing figure of Rafael Nadal on the other side of the net become too much for Novak to handle? Or is it that Rafa’s incredible amalgamation of mental stamina and physical strength continues to be insuperable for Novak?
So how much crucial now would the French Open draw prove to be for the World No.4 player? Does it indicate that if he is pitted in Roger’s half of the draw he would be successful in making his first ever non-hardcourt Grand Slam final appearance simply by averting the colossal danger called Rafael Nadal?
Draws, sure are as unpredictable as the toss of a coin and nobody knows for certain what awaits for Nole in his half. Also the fact that Roger Federer has produced a stellar performance in downing none other than Nadal on clay at Madrid would perhaps not help his cause much.
But the fact that he has succeeded in subduing Federer this season on the red dirt and has repeatedly pushed Rafa to the brink might just tilt the balance in favour of the Serb and help him squeeze through if the No.2 and No.4 are to meet in the semis.
We can only wait till 22nd May when the French Open draws will be announced to get a sneak peek into what awaits Novak’s fate and till then the ardent and most optimistic Nole fans can only keep on hoping that this time their hero can manage to break the tradition of facing the uncompromising Spaniard in the semis unlike the last two years.
Post №: 1106
Joined: 24.03.09
Location: Россия, Ногинск
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5
Posted: 22.05.09 10:57. Post subject: Сегодня день рождени..
Сегодня день рождения отмечает Новак Джокович
Сегодня, 22 мая, свой день рождения отмечает четвертая ракетка мира серб Новак Джокович. Ему испоняется 22 года.
За карьеру профессионального теннисиста Джокович выиграл 13 турниров, в том числе один – «Большого шлема». Победив на Australian Open в 2008 году, стал первым сербом, выигравшим турнир «Большого шлема», а также самым молодым победителем Открытого чемпионата Австралии со времен Стефана Эдберга. В Австралии серб обыграл в полуфинале Роджера Федерера, прервав тем самым серию швейцарца из 10 подряд финалов на турнирах «Большого шлема».
С июля 2007 по май 2009 был третьей ракеткой мира.
Вместе со своей соотечественницей Аной Иванович принимал участие в двух розыгрышах Кубка Хопмана — в 2006 и 2008 годах. Дебютировал в сборной Сербии в 2003 году. В 2007 году помог своей команде выйти в Мировую группу.
Novak Djokovic will be among the elite handful of contenders at Roland Garros, and he may be the man with the best shot at ending Rafael Nadal's remarkable, undefeated run at the French Grand Slam. Nadal is 28-0 in Paris (numbers only Bjorn Borg can match), and I've heard many people say that we shouldn't read too much into Roger Federer's recent win over Nadal in Paris.
I'm not sure I'd be so cavalier about that last bit. Sure the court played fast and the tournament took place at a high altitude, both factors that probably favored Federer. That's not to be discounted. In fact, the other day Patrick McEnroe told me that when the USA met Spain in that 2008 Davis Cup semifinal in Madrid (at the Plaza de Toros Las Ventas), Nadal was visibly upset by the fast speed of the court, and expressed his displeasure freely. You may remember that Rafa played the first match, against US rookie Sam Querrey (who won that first set in a tiebreaker before Nadal dialed in his game).
"The ball really does fly there," Pat told me. "The difference is not just real, it's really noticeable."
So Rafa can definitely tell himself that conditions will be significantly different and more favorable to him in Paris next week, but my own feeling is that in a rivalry like Federer vs. Nadal neither of the principals takes anything for granted. The fact that Roger won their last match, and on clay, is there in Rafa's mind, a small ticking thing that may - or may not - go BOOM! You can't expect Rafa to admit that Federer's authoritative play last Sunday may have taken him by surprise and put a little hiccup in his planning. Tennis pros are notoriously poker-faced. But to some degree Roger's win meant something, even though the shooting script (co-writtten with Toni Nadal) goes something like this Roger is a great player, I'm not at all surprised, but next week is a different blah-blah-blah. . .
The bottom line is that when you have two proud players who so thoroughly dominate most of their peers that they're more joined than remote from each other, everything counts. Everything can be significant, albeit not necessarily so. It just as much of a mistake to blow off the Madrid final with circumstantial excuses (fatigue, court speed, altitude, etc.) as it is to rationalize the way Federer lost that ghastly Roland Garros final last year. With two guys like this, everything counts. Everything is stored in the operating system and can affect the operation of the hard drive or one or another program. Guys like Rafa get to be guys like Roger (think about it. . .) precisely because they take nothing for granted, and when they deliver ultra-conservative cliches about their chances against any given player, they aren't engaging in false modesty. Eternal vigilance isn't just the price of liberty, it's also the price of dominance in tennis.
And this brings us around to Djokovic, who established himself as the third wheel in the Federer-Nadal rivalry last year, until the wheel fell off. But it appears to be back on again, and Djokovic is jostling and elbow-slamming Andy Murray, both of them right in thick of the hunt. You saw Djokovic's remarkable semifinal match against Nadal in Madrid, right? Nadal swept away three match points in that one, a match that established a new Master Series record when it finally ended at four hours, three minutes. Say what you will about the speed of the court or the heat of the sun, it's unlikely that Nadal walked away from that one thinking: That didn't mean nothin', guy just had a good day. . .
So the two men who had match points against Nadal in Madrid, one that converted and one that didn't, loom as his principal challengers for the title in Paris. And while Murray was on fire for much of this year, I imagine that both Rafa and Roger would prefer to see him, rather than Djokovic, plopped down in his half of the draw. Djokovic may be more dangerous than Murray for two reasons: he's been there before as a Grand slam champion (having won the Australian Open of 2008), and because he seems to be building emotional momentum that could propel him through the draw in Paris.
Djokovic got off to a fairly horrible start this year and failing to defend his title in Australia was the least of it. His game was unraveling, and his confidence at low ebb. It all started with a change of racket, from a Wilson to a new Head frame. Like so many other players before him, Djokovic realized that no matter how much money was put on the table, there was one thing no new sponsor could not guarantee: satisfaction with his product, even if, technically, there was nothing wrong with it.
As Djokovic said during the Australian Open: "I have changed rackets in past, but when I was a junior. The level of play is really -- it's different from a professional level. As the third player of the world, of course the defending champion here, it was a pretty risky move. But I already decided to do that, so I take the responsibility and I just move on. I think I found a good rhythm and good feel with the (new) racket. Hopefully it's going to stay that way."
The phrasing Djokovic used was telling, and it sheds light on his nature. I take the responsibility. . . he said, as if, a) it needed saying, or b) someone would think otherwise. So don't let those imitations Djokovic does fool you; this is one serious, responsible tennis player. Too serious, sometimes, as you can tell by his press conferences, which often are conducted with a kind of gravitas that doesn't seem quite right for a sporting occasion. If you shut your eyes, his tone and delivery seem less like those of a happy-go-lucky tennis player (think Rafa) than the cabinet-level minister responsible for the successful completion of the Trans-Serbian Hydro-Electric and Agricultural Irrigation Project.
And this, in some ways, reflects the reality and truth of Djokovic's position in the eyes of his countrymen, in a nation where the sense of kinship and patriotism is profound, unshakeable, and highly volatile. While the Spanish may embrace Rafael as the commonly owned Iberian kid brother, and the Swiss can hold up Roger Federer as a symbol of the nation's dispassionate dedication to excellence and reliability, the Serbs appear to look upon Djokovic a something far more earthy and powerful, a hero. Someone with the proverbial fate of the nation in his hands. Serbian people to some degree depend on Djokovic, it seems, or they do so to a much greater than on either of their two great female players, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic. This is hardly surprising; if Serbia had a gender, it would most decidedly be male.
It helps to think along these lines when it comes to the Serbia Open, the tournament owned and run by the star's family. It seems that Djokovic wouldn't settle for giving his often beleaguered countrymen something positive to talk about over their morning coffee and the newspaper, he actually gave them tennis - a game, a calling-card to present to other members of the family of nations, the concrete walls and steel beams and crushed brick courts and net posts and locker rooms that, added together, add up to something tangible, something every Serb can actually enjoy and experience in a way that isn't available to the most diehard Spanish Rafa fan or diehard Swiss supporter of Federer. All of this was in the planning stages early in the year, and perhaps it added to the pressure Djokovic felt as the defender at the Australian Open. And let's remember, no less an authority than Pete Sampras has said that the hardest thing in tennis is defending a major - especially a first major. If you want to see just how hard it is, flip through the record books and see just how few people managed it.
Djokovic pretty much fell apart in Australia; the official version is that he withdrew from his quarterfinal match with Andy Roddick due to exhaustion. Does anybody want to track down the last time a defending Grand Slam champion withdrew? The first leg of the season basically was a disaster, and while Djokovic won Dubai not long thereafter, it would be his only title during the spring swing on his best surface (hard courts). And although he did make the final of Miami, he was strikingly uncertain of himself in a loss to Murray.
It seems that Djokovic was able to shrug off that loss, because in his next two events (Monte Carlo and Rome) he played the championship match against the undisputed king of clay, Nadal. In Rome, the road to the final led through Federer, but Djokovic gave it the gas and won. At that point, Djokovic made a strong move - the kind of pro-active move many Federer fans wish their own paragon had made, at various points over the past 12 months.
Djokovic hired a new fitness coach, Gebhard Phil-Gritsch - the trainer who shepherded Thomas "the Animal" Muster to the world no. 1 ranking. "I felt that I needed a change," Djokovic said, while denying that the new hire had anything to do with his loss of condition in Melbourne. "I needed something new to improve on."
And lest anyone mistake Djokovic for a slacker, he elaborated, offering a confession: "Well, I do work, you know. I don't think it was all issue about my physical preparation, condition. It was mentally, as well, if in some period I didn't believe in my quality. I had some ups and downs with the results, but now I'm confident enough. I know that I deserve to be here (in the Rome final), so I think it's all coming together."
Djokovic's next event was the Djokovic Family Open, aka Belgrade, or the Serbia Open. The idea that a player would just up and buy out a tournament (Amersfoort) and re-locate it in another venue under another name is a little strange, and the potential conflicts-of-interest are obvious. (At the end of one Australian Opien presser he fielded this question "Nadal never asked for a wildcard, but he could still play?" Djokovic replied: "We refused him because we had some priorities." Not having been there, I presume this was one of those You had to be there. . . jokes, but it makes the point.)
Djokovic didn't have to do any of the grunt work, being the de facto owner and host of the tournament. Still, the hopes of his countrymen were at a fevered pitch and the pressure on Djokovic not to disappoint was enormous. Enroute to the final, Djokovic beat two Serbs, Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki. Djokovic won the first set against Janko, but lost the second; however, a national crisis was averted when Tipsarevic folded up his tent quietly, losing the third set at love.. Djokovic sailed on, and ultimately beat Lukasz Kubot (no. 179) for the title and earned a handsome trophy. He presumably paid for that trophy out of his own pocket, so did it mean more, or less?
Winning the tournament was a demonstration not only of skill, but of Djokovic's innate sense of responsibility, and his ability to exercise and exploit it. That's marvelous ballast for the spirit of a tennis player, who usually operates with a much more narrow definition of responsibility - one best summed up as the mandate to do whatever is best for your game and to hail with everything else. It takes a different sort of maturity to undertake and make good on obligations in a realm larger than your pure self-interest, and Djokovic seems to have that sort of seasoning. Frankly, his serious nature is more appealing when he's actually got something substantial - and greater than himself - to be serious about.
There's a real payoff to that degree of adult behavior in a sport where everyone wears short pants, although it doesn't usually manifest itself early in a player's career. Let's face it - to have the ambition, energy and fearlessness of youth is quite enough when it comes to winning tennis matches. But sometimes - against certain players, in certain borderline situations, under the duress of withering pressure - any asset or shortcoming of personality is enough to tip the balance, one way or the other.
For Djokovic, a player who's experienced something like the Cliff Notes version of a career so far in 2009, I think I know which way the balance will tip.
Posted: 22.05.09 21:47. Post subject: Nadal defiance means..
Nadal defiance means nothing now, says Djokovic Novak Djokovic consigned his heroic, marathon Madrid Masters clash with Rafael Nadal to history on Friday, insisting it will have no bearing on his hopes of dethroning the Spaniard at Roland Garros. The Serbian world number four squandered three match points against the four-time French Open winner in their epic semi-final in the Spanish capital.
The nail-biting defeat followed losses to the world number one in finals in Monte Carlo and Rome in this claycourt season.
Djokovic knows he's close to Nadal, but not yet close enough.
"It's not that easy. I probably played one of the best matches of my life against him, but he made some unbelievable shots to win those points which he did - again," sighed the Serbian.
"The conditions in Spain weren't really suitable to his style of game. The altitude meant he wasn't finding his best rhythm. But when he needs to play well, he plays well.
"However, the way I played against him gives me more self-belief that I can beat him next time."
Djokovic, a French Open semi-finalist for the past two years, can only face Nadal in the final this year after being drawn in the same half as Roger Federer, who beat a fatigued Nadal in the Madrid final, bringing the Spaniard's 33-match claycourt winning streak to an end.
That was Federer's first trophy of 2009, the perfect way to come into Roland Garros where the Swiss star, having lost the last three finals here to Nadal, is seeking an elusive title to add to his 13 Grand Slam crowns.
"Roger's a player who has a lot of credit in the history of this sport," said Djokovic.
"He's loved by fans worldwide. He's number two now, has been number one and he's back on a winning streak. Tennis must be happy to see that because he's a big champion."
Djokovic said he received many plaudits for his performance in Madrid, but that he was overwhelmed by praise from Carlos Moya, a former world number one and French Open champion.
"He said it was the best three-set match he had ever seen on this surface. That was a big compliment coming from a big champion like him."
Posted: 22.05.09 21:48. Post subject: Djokovic ready to be..
Djokovic ready to beat Nadal on clay PARIS (Reuters) – A week after worrying claycourt king Rafael Nadal in Madrid, Novak Djokovic feels he has what it takes to clinch the French Open at the expense of the world number one.
Spaniard Nadal, who is undefeated at Roland Garros since his debut in 2005, lost in the Madrid Masters final to Swiss Roger Federer a day after saving three match points against Djokovic in a four-hour tussle.
"The semi-final against Rafa in Madrid gave me even more self belief that I might win in our next encounter," the world number four told reporters on Friday.
The fourth-seeded Djokovic, who has lost to Nadal in the semi-final of the French Open for the past two years, will not be in the champion's half of the draw.
Instead, Djokovic could face Federer in the last four, leaving him to hope Nadal's semi-final opponent would repeat the favor he did for the Swiss in Madrid.
"I have not seen the match, but they told me he (Nadal) wasn't moving quite well. I mean, obviously because of the long match we had played the day before," the 2008 Australian Open champion said.
However, Djokovic was aware of the size of the task facing him if he is to depose Nadal in Paris.
"If you talk about my matches on this claycourt season against Rafa, basically looking at each match I am getting closer and closer," he said.
"So there is only one more point to go. But it's not that easy. Again, I'm saying I played probably one of the best matches in my life against him on clay, even though I lost it."
Djokovic will face Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti at Roland Garros in the first round."
Posted: 22.05.09 21:50. Post subject: Ноль, давай начнем с..
Ноль, давай начнем с малого и победим Лапентти в три сета, потом в том же духе дальше, потом глядишь упрёмся в Феда, заершим, выиграем, и тогда уже о Фафе будем думать...Что зря себе нервные клетки мыслями о нем портить, когда можно обломаться даже не дожидась перерафонита
Posted: 23.05.09 11:24. Post subject: Оказывается Елены не..
Оказывается Елены не было на турнире в Белграде. Вот это новость e ovako...ja cu ti postaviti...ma neki text da Nole i Jeca zive zajedno i interviju sa Noletovi dekom.... ZASTO JELENA NIJE DOSLA U BEOGRAD Tokom prvog ATP turnira u Srbiji mnogo se pricalo o ljubavnom zivotu naseg najboljeg igraca, a nedolazak njegove devojke pokrenuo je nagadjanja Tokom prvog teniskog ATP turnira koji je odrzan u Beogradu, cini se, vise se pisalo o ljubavnom zivotu Novaka Djokovica nego o tenisu.Prica o navodnoj tajnoj ljubavi naseg najboljeg igraca u istoriji tenisa i pevacice Natase Bekvalac bila je top-tema, a nepojavljivanje "zvanicne" Novakove devojke, dvadesettrogodisnje Beogradjanke Jelene Ristic, na mecevima Serbia opena pokrenulo je glasine da je par raskinuo... Medjutim, o raskidu ni govora. Novak i Jelena vec skoro godinu dana zive zajedno u Novakovoj kuci u Monte Karlu, dok Noletova porodica zivi u kuci pored. Novak, zbog stalnih putovanja, ne provodi mnogo vremena u zajednickoj kuci, a kada nadju malo slobodnog vremena, par obicno ode na utakmice fudbalskog kluba Monako. Novak se, kao njihov strastveni navijac, istim intenzitetom nervira i raduje, dok Jelena vreme na stadionu obicno prekracuje slanjem poruka preko mobilnog telefona. Na stadionu Monaka ovaj par je uvek dobrodosao, jer celnici tog fudbalskog kluba Novaka posmatraju kao clana kluba i on uvek ima mesto u pocasnoj lozi. Inace, mladi par je otpoceo zajednicki zivot po zavrsetku Jeleninih studija u Milanu, gde je zavrsila prestizni evropski fakultet ekonomije "Bokoni". Kada je diplomirala, Jelena se preselila kod Novaka u Monte Karlo i tamo zaposlila u predstavnistvu jedne libijske kompanije kao koordinator za ljudske resurse. - Koliko ja znam, pricala mi je, da firma bas ulaze u nju, u njeno usavrsavanje. I sad to sto nije bila u Beogradu i sva ta nagadjanja...Pa Jelena mnogo radi i cesto zbog posla putuje i logicno je da ne moza da dodje na svaki Novakov turnir. Nije ona besposlena. Kad god moze, kao pre nekoliko dana u Rimu, ona dodje - ispricala je njena drugarica ( i imenjakinja ) s kojom je Jelena studirala u Milanu. Jelena, dakle, zbog poslovnih obaveza nije mogla da bude u Beogradu tokom turnira, ali prve slobodne dane dane za dolazak u Srbiju iskoristice vec od 1. juna, kada ce doci u posetu roditeljima na najmanje dve nedelje. - Sta ja tu imam da kazem, ja sam samo Jelenina mama, morate razumeti...Mi smo samo obicna skromna porodica. Mogu samo da vam kazem da sam veoma srecna mama, jer imam dve pametne i ambiciozne cerke koje zele da se ostvare u poslu. Sto se tice Novakove i Jelenine veze, mogu samo da kazem da se medjusobno veoma podrzavaju, ponosni su jedno na drugo, i dalje su zaljubljeni - rekla je Jelenina mama Ikonija.
Jelenin zivot Jelena Ristic je zavrsila Osnovnu skolu "Drinka Pavlovic" u Beogradu. Posle toga upisala je Sportsku gimnaziju, jer se u to vreme rekreativno bavila tenisom, a tada je i upoznala Novaka. Nakon zavrsene gimnazije, roditelji su je poslali na prestizni fakultet ekonomije u Milanu, pri tom ulazuci velika sredstva u njeno skolovanje i skolovanje njene starije sestre Marije, koja je zavrsila fakultet za bankarstvo u SAD. Odlaskom na studije u inostranstvo Jelena je napustila i porodicni dom u samom centru Beograda, da bi se nakon zavrsenog trogodisnjeg fakulteta i zvanicno odselila u Monte Karlo. Zbog cestih negativnih pisanja medija, Jelenini roditelji izbegavaju svaki kontankt s novinarima.
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Posted: 23.05.09 15:50. Post subject: Новак Джокович: «Пол..
Новак Джокович: «Полуфинал в Мадриде против Рафы придал мне уверенности»
Серб Новак Джокович в преддверии «Ролан Гаррос» рассказал о перспективах на следующий поединок с первой ракеткой мира Рафаэлем Надалем.
«Полуфинал в Мадриде против Рафы придал мне уверенности в том, что я могу выиграть в нашем следующем поединке. Я не смотрел финальный матч, но мне сказали, что Рафа не очень хорошо двигался, очевидно, из-за четырехчасового матча, который он провел накануне.
Если говорить о моей игре против Рафы на грунте в этом сезоне, то с каждым матчем я все ближе к победе. В Мадриде мне не хватило одного очка. Еще раз скажу, что это был один из моих лучших матчей с ним на грунте, хоть я и проиграл», – цитирует Джоковича Reuters.
В первом круге «Ролан Гаррос» Джокович сыграет с чилийцем Николасом Лапентти.
Posted: 29.05.09 16:35. Post subject: N. DJOKOVIC/S. Stakh..
N. DJOKOVIC/S. Stakhovsky 6‑3, 6‑4, 6‑1
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. How hard was it not to finish yesterday and have to come back today? Was it especially hard, or not that much?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, look, it's not pleasant when you don'tfinish a match in one day, especially on the Grand Slams when you're playingbest of five. I was lucky to come back in the second set and be two sets up, sothat was really important.
Today I played reallywell all third set and happy to, you know, to finish early so I can have moretime to recover, basically, for next match.
Q. Were you a bit angry to be scheduled maybe so late yet?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, no. I mean, I'm not angry. It's justthe way it is. That's the schedule. There is so many matches, so many good andinteresting players and interesting matches to see, so it was difficult toorganize. And we had yesterday somematches from two days ago, as well.
You know, it'sdifficult when you don't have lights. Then you have to, you know, end up quickly. And if the weather is not good, then theschedule is really packed.
Q. How do you feel your game for this first round? Because you seem to be already playing quitea bit of tennis.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, first round I haven't played a lot,really. Nicolas had to retire alreadysecond set, so I didn't get a lot of rhythm, which I could feel in the openingtwo sets yesterday. I didn't really geta lot of, you know, long rallies left, right. I made some unforced errors here and there.
It's important thing toreally stay focused, not underestimate any opponent and really try to give yourmaximum any match you play. I alreadyfelt today much better, and, you know, next round going to have Ferrero orKohlschreiber, whoever won the fifth set.
Any of those two, they're really good claycourt specialists and good baseline players, and we're going to have a lot oflong rallies.
Q. Afterwinning Shanghai last year as a Masters Cup, how are you looking forward to itas a Masters Series, just sort of the whole tournament?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It's a different format, but again, everytournament I play I try to get as far as possible. I think I have enough quality to be a reallysuccessful all‑around player. I've beenmaking a lot of success on different surfaces.
China left a great impression on melast year. You know, that's one of mybiggest achievements in the career, winning a Masters Cup. I'll be very happy to come back there andplay in front of that great crowd.
Q. I think it's going to be a lot different with, you know, 48 or whateverit is or spread around all those grounds. I mean, it's going to be a totally different tournament, you think?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It is. It's going to be different. TheMasters Cup is a crown, you know, crown of every achievement, I think. It's the best eight players in the world,participating in that event.
Here you have, youknow, Masters Series event. It's goingto be different, but maybe for the crowd there maybe more interesting to seemore players, more matches.
Q. You're in the same bottom half of Juan Martin Del Potro. First, we know that he gives you a T‑shirt ofBoca Juniors.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: True.
Q. True?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes.
Q. And then, on the other hand, how do you see probably match against DelPotro and his chances to win this tournament?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I hope the fans of River will not really read what you're writingabout the shirt that he gave me. Noexcess for me in half of Argentina,no?
No, I'm really goodfriends with him. He's a really greatguy. He's one year younger than I, butcertainly stronger. If you look at him, he'sreally big guy and he moves extremely well for his height.
He's been playing fantastic in last oneyear, winning three or four events in a row. It was just great in his age last year.
He's No. 5 of the world for quitesome time, and he's very consistent. Very, very solid from all the baseline, you know, strokes. He loves playing on clay, so if I get to playhim in quarterfinals, will be a big challenge for both of us, I think.
Q. There'sa chance that you play Ferrero in your next match. Are you surprised to see that a former No. 1keeps fighting to get back now he's out of the top 100?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, you have to give him credit forthat. He was No. 1 in the world, winninga Grand Slam and, you know, playing on a highest level in tennis, and then, youknow, he dropped for some time. Now he'strying to get back his confidence and his game.
He's been playingbetter lately. I mean, you've got togive him credit for that, because the Grand Slam champion, former No. 1,playing, you know, on court 17 and really fighting five sets to, you know, winthe match.
I mean, he's a professional. Sometimes you have to, you know, deal with acenter court and all these big matches, big crowd. And then, on the other hand, you have, to,you know, if you drop, that's tennis. You know, that sport. It will befun to play him.
Posted: 31.05.09 12:02. Post subject: P. KOHLSCHREIBER/N. ..
P. KOHLSCHREIBER/N. Djokovic 6‑4, 6‑4, 6‑4
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Obviously it's an awful disappointment for you. What happened? What are your thoughts now?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, look, I'm obviously disappointed a lotwith the way I was performing today. More or less that I, you know, lost the match. What is disappointing was that I couldn'tfind the rhythm throughout the whole match.
This is what I wasalways managing to do. You know, that's why I'm in the top of the men's gamefor a while now. But, you know, I wastrying not to be frustrated with a lot of unforced errors. Tried to be positive and just wait for thechances.
He didn't give me a lot of chances. But yet again, I didn't work for thosechances. This is the problem. I played too passive, and he played reallysolid from all the strokes. Socongratulations to him, of course.
He's been ‑‑ he was playing a goodmatch. But again, next year.
Q. Ithink you played him once before at Indian Wells, and you defeated him. Was that the same player you were playingtoday? I mean, he was mixing well hisshots, and he had the upper hand in the rallies. Do you think he played the match of his life?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, that's a question for him. He's going to answer if he played the matchof his life. Certainly, he played reallywell. You have to give him credit forplaying tactically really smart and really good. Unfortunately, I had no solutions.
Q. Is your sense of frustration perhaps compounded by the fact that you hadsuch a good clay court season? You'veplayed some superb matches in Europe. Does that kind of mount the frustrationyou're feeling at the moment? Coming inhere you were thinking you had the best chance of winning it.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, but again, the good clay court season,very successful clay court season this year, only can give me a lot ofconfidence to try to continue the same run. That's what I felt. First twomatches were going quite well, and then I felt good before this match. Suddenly on the court it was a differentstory.
I can't really explainwhy. Physically I felt good, but it'sjust ‑‑ it's just a bad day at the office, how they say it.
What can you do? This is sport.
Q. Perhapstoo much pressure, that can explain?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, look, I mean, pressure is there. The pressure is always there. If you're, you know, for a while, third orfourth player in the world, top of the men's tennis for a couple of years, ofcourse you always have expectation and pressure. This is a part of your life.
But I was alwaysdealing with the pressure in some way, quite, you know, quite good, and, youknow, quite consistent and having really good results in all the Grand SlamsI've played, except Wimbledon last year.
You know, as I was saying before the eventstarted, the opening rounds are very dangerous because the players are a bitlower ranked and they have nothing to lose. Philipp is a clay court specialist, and he went out in a five‑set matchand played incredibly well today.
Q. Youhad a good play three days in a row. Doyou think it affected your play today?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, no.
Q. Was his serve extremely difficult to control?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it was my movement on the return thatwas difficult to control, to be honest. I wasn't moving toward and just trying, move left, right, back, forth,you know, trying to find the comfort zone. Didn't really work out. My legswere really stuck.
So if you have noexplosivity [sic] and your legs are not dynamic enough on this surface, youhave not a lot of chances if the guy plays such a high level as he playedtoday.
Q. You talked about Wimbledon lastyear. You were in the final in Queen's,and then you lost second round, I guess. This year here you're maybe one of the two top favorites, and then againit's a bad day. How can you compare bothdisappointments and matches?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It's a different surface, you know. Different Grand Slams. But suddenly I haven't played in the lastthree Grand Slams the way I wanted, and I don't know...
I will try to changesome things for Wimbledon this year. Last year was really the worst match I'veplayed on that surface. I mean, I lostto Marat who later reached semifinals. Of course, he was playing really well in Wimbledonlast year.
I think I have a quite good game, but,again, I cannot allow myself to have such a bad performance as I hadtoday. I cannot allow myself to be thatdefensive. This is not me. This is not my game.
Q. Inthe third set, you were leading 3‑2. Youseemed to come back. At the end of thefifth game you were looking at the sky with your arms wide open. Were you kind of praying for a miracle foryour shots and game to come back?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I couldn't believe I made a forehand winnerafter three sets. (laughter.) That'swhy.
Q. You said you had difficulty moving well. Your feet were stuck. Do you havean explanation for that? Is it more aphysical reason for that, or is it more like you were tight or...
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I didn't find the rhythm. That's all. It was not physically anything. Ithink it was more mentally just to find that zone, but I couldn't.
Q. Nothing that was hurting?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No.
Q. Today on the court you looked not to have the energy to fight on everypoint. Are you mentally exhausted afterthe season, middle of the season?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, look, I've played a lot, so mentallyI'm a little bit exhausted, yes. Butstill, that's not an explanation for my loss today. That's not excuse, for sure.
I mean, it's a GrandSlam. Look, you know, I'm one of thefavorites to get far in the tournament. This cannot happen. Of course,it's all my fault, and I accept the responsibility.
Q. Is there any chance at all that having a new fitness trainer and doingsome new things off the court, are you overtrained? Is there any possibility that just that changehas made a difference?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't think so. I really don't think so. I'm going to analyze all the things I'vedone, but I don't know.
I mean, to be honest, Ithink it was just me and my head today. I don't want to blame anybody else.
Q. The strength and depth of the men's game now is probably as good as it'sbeen ever. How hard is it to sustainyour level all the time against the quality of players that you're facing weekin and week out?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it is, you know. And it's really hard as well to keep up withthe guys, top five guys who are reaching at least quarters or semis of eachevent they play.
It's a really strongcompetition, but that's the way it is. It's a big challenge for all of us, obviously. I've been playing for three, four years onthis level.
I mean, okay, I took this loss quite badlyand I'm disappointed. But, again, I haveto try to focus for continuation of the season, and I hope for some goodresults on the grass courts.
Posted: 07.06.09 18:59. Post subject: Novak Djokovic looki..
Novak Djokovic looking forward to first match He has been soaking up the atmosphere long before the first ball-change. Novak Djokovic has been at the venue of the GERRY WEBER OPEN since last Wednesday and whoever crosses the World Ranking number four’s path always finds him with an open ear and a friendly word. (picture: pmk) Djokovic is not just a protagonist on the Centre Court of the Champions League of his sport, but he is one off it too: He is a charismatic young star who has become one of the most famous figures in the world of tennis at such a young age. “We are delighted with how Novak has presented himself here,” said tournament manager Ralf Weber. “He seems to be really enjoying it at the GERRY WEBER OPEN.”
And Djokovic can vouch for that: “This is an exceptional venue with a great atmosphere,” he said. “I really like to play on grass as it is one of the quickest surfaces on the Tour. Every ball-change, every event happens really quickly on grass.”
Although Djokovic is making his debut at the GERRY WEBER OPEN this year, the Monte Carlo-based right-hander did pay Halle in East Westphalia a visit three years ago. “I trained here for a few days before the tournament so I remember the first-class venue from back then,” revealed Djokovic. The aim is for his debut on the fringes of the Teutoberger Forest to end in victory for the 2008 Australian Open champion – ideally with a triumph over Roger Federer, the grass-court king who has been victorious in the last five editions.
“I obviously know how much Roger likes this tournament and how well he plays here, but I can and want to make life hard for him,” said Djokovic. “A victory for me here – now that would be fantastic.” He perceives differences in their styles of play: “Of course there are some,” he explained. “We both serve differently. Roger likes to vary things a lot whereas I go for strength. But one thing cannot be ignored: Rafael Nadal and Roger have been dominating tennis for five years now and that is impressive.”
The 22-year-old showed what he is capable of on grass with his impressive showing at Wimbledon in 2007. Back then, he had to pull out at the semi-final stage against Rafael Nadal due to injury. Djokovic suffered a lot from an extremely rain-hit Wimbledon as he was forced to play a mammoth programme of games in the latter stages. In 2008, he lost surprisingly in the second round to the unpredictable Marat Safin, which Djokovic recalls as a “disappointment”. However, “On his day, Marat can beat anybody, even Roger and Rafa. And even me,” admitted Djokovic.
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