Djokovic: ‘I Couldn’t Ask For A Better Week’

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic revealed that he is delighted with where his game is after he captured a record-extending 38th ATP Masters 1000 crown on Sunday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

The Serbian, who beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final, did not drop a set en route to his sixth title in Rome and earned his 1000th match win along the way.

“I couldn’t ask for a better week really,” Djokovic said in his post-match press conference. “[I] played a perfect set today. Didn’t drop a set the whole tournament. I trusted the process really when I started training on clay…

“I usually peak here in Rome. I’ve had six titles but also had a lot of finals and semi-finals. Always a really good week of tennis with a lot of matches, and competitiveness on the court. Anything that I was really looking for here in Rome I got.”

The 34-year-old’s victory in the Italian capital has marked an impressive turnaround for Djokovic, who lost to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his opening match in Monte Carlo just a month ago.

Despite his struggles at the start of the European clay swing, the top seed said that while he ‘felt rusty’, he never panicked and believed he would regain his best level providing that he played matches.

“I think physically I really felt really good from Madrid onwards,” Djokovic added when discussing his run to the semi-finals in Spain. “Already there I felt like the physical issues that I was facing in Monte Carlo and Serbia were behind me. I put in a lot of fitness hours between Serbia and Madrid.”

Pleased with his progress, Djokovic will now turn his attention to Roland Garros, where he will pursue the title and draw level with Rafael Nadal on 21 Grand Slam crowns.

“I could not ask for a better lead-up to Roland Garros really,” Djokovic said. “Serbian Open finals, really working my way through the tournament physically. Then Madrid, better performances, but still maybe not as sharp in those decisive moments. And here everything kind of came together and clicked.

“I’m going to Paris with confidence and good feelings about my chances there.”