Djokovic's Goal In Belgrade: Reach 'Perfectly Tuned'
Novak Djokovic is one week away from beginning his chase for a second Roland Garros title. But first, the World No. 1 is focussing on improving as much as possible this week at the Belgrade Open in Serbia.
“I’ve been setting up everything to peak in Paris and here it’s about matchplay and it’s about working on certain specific details in my game that hopefully I’ll be able to tweak them and to make them perfectly tuned in Paris,” Djokovic said. “That’s definitely where I want to shine and it’s a Grand Slam. It’s a two-week long event, it’s clay, it’s very demanding in every aspect. But I’m happy with the way I’ve been feeling on the court and playing, so hopefully I can go all the way there.”
This is the first time that Djokovic will play a tournament the week before the clay-court major. The Serbian is adjusting his routines accordingly.
“I’m doing more specific fitness that is related to more matchplay. It’s not any more long hours lifting weights and stuff like this. We have obviously a programme that we are respecting and accomplishing on the court with tennis training and also fitness training,” Djokovic said. “Obviously now it’s more of a fine-tuning, more [focussing on the] details, [doing] more of certain exercises that activate certain muscles and movements that are necessary for me to have that feeling of being dynamic and being fast and being strong on the court.”
Djokovic competed at the Novak Tennis Center just one month ago in the Serbia Open, in which he lost in the semi-finals against Aslan Karatsev. Another Belgrade ATP 250 was added for this year when Roland Garros was moved back one week.
“It is always very special to play in Serbia. It’s quite unusual to have two tournaments so close to each other. I played the Serbia Open a month ago here and now we have another tournament and this tournament came up as a surprise to all of us,” Djokovic said. “I think the success of a nation in tennis depends a lot on the amount of tournaments that are played in that country.”
The home favourite loves playing in Serbia, where he lifted ATP Tour trophies in 2009 and 2011. Since he is able to stay at home, the top seed is also enjoying time with his family.
“I’m really glad that I am also able to play at home twice and spend more time with the family,” Djokovic said.
The last time fans saw Djokovic in action, he pushed Rafael Nadal in a tough three-setter in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia final. The Serbian will play Egor Gerasimov or Mats Moraing in his opener in Belgrade.
“I was pleased with the way I played in Rome, also in the final after five hours spent on the court on Saturday. I came out and played almost three hours with Rafa on Sunday and I felt I could go on physically for a few more hours,” Djokovic said. “That was something that really satisfied me, knowing that I’m fit and ready to battle in best of five, which is coming up in Paris, where I really want to try to play my best tennis.”