Novak Djokovic: ‘History Is Always Hovering Over Me’ | ATP Tour

How do you take care of the burden of expectation? Relish it, in response to Novak Djokovic.

The Serbian moved inside one win of a file twenty third main trophy on Friday by defeating World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz to succeed in the championship match at Roland Garros. Djokovic pulled away from the bodily ailing Spaniard after a pulsating opening two units to clinch a four-set triumph and transfer to the brink of historical past.

“Stress is all the time on my shoulders, so it is not going to be completely different,” stated the 36-year-old, who would transfer forward of Rafael Nadal within the Grand Slam titles race by defeating Casper Ruud in Sunday’s remaining. “However it’s a part of my sport, a part of my life, all that I do. I believe that having strain is a privilege. However it’s a supply of motivation, as effectively. Nice motivation to play effectively and to succeed in Sunday.

“Earlier than the match I used to be saying that in fact for me Roland Garros is a Grand Slam, and it is crucial match on this floor. So I used to be well-prepared in order that I’d be on this place, in order that I’d be prepared for this battle to win this different Grand Slam title.

“I hope that I will play my greatest tennis stage on Sunday. The one factor I can say now could be that I am very centered. Historical past is all the time one thing that is hovering over me, however I am very glad to be on this place to put in writing historical past of this sport, however I am simply serious about profitable the following match.”

Djokovic produced a few of his greatest tennis of the fortnight in Paris early in opposition to Alcaraz, however the Spaniard had struck again to stage the pair’s semi-final at one-set-all when he started to endure from debilitating cramp that severely hindered his motion on Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier. In true champion fashion, Djokovic stayed centered on his personal sport to clinch a snug victory in a match that had appeared set to turn out to be a Roland Garros traditional.

“I’ve skilled that a number of instances,” stated Djokovic, when requested about Alcaraz’s post-match self-assessment that the strain of the encounter had contributed to his bodily points. “Early in my profession I used to be struggling fairly a bit bodily. I can perceive the feelings and circumstances that have an effect on you mentally and emotionally.

“Being in one of many biggest tournaments of the world, [and] possibly for the primary time in his profession he was anticipated to win. He was possibly not an underdog, chasing the title and attempting to win in opposition to a favorite. It was most likely the opposite method round. So possibly that affected him. As he stated, it most likely did.”

Djokovic was in little doubt that 2022 US Open champion Alcaraz would quickly come once more on the Grand Slam stage, and likened the Spaniard’s tribulations on the Parisian clay to some that he went by way of earlier in his personal profession.

“It is part of the educational curve. It is a part of the expertise,” stated Djokovic, who needed to wait three years between profitable his first main title and his second. “He is solely 20. So, he is received loads of time.

“He is confirmed a lot maturity within the final couple of years. He appeared on the scene, only a few years in the past, profitable his first title, and solely a 12 months later he wins his first Grand Slam, and he turns into No. 1.

“I’ve great respect for that, and he is received an excellent coach, an excellent group of individuals round him. The profession shall be his. His profession shall be very profitable if he manages clearly to maintain wholesome, as a result of the sport is there.”