N. DJOKOVIC/G. Simon

6 3, 2 6, 6 2

An interview with:

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

 THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.

 Q.  The racquet smashing seemed to help clear the head a little bit, because
you then didn't lose a game after that.  But it was intense all the way
through, wasn't it?
 NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Yeah, kind of sounds strange, but you're right, you know.
 Most of the time when I smash the racquet the things go better from then on.
 I don't know.

 Q.  And the moral for the story?
 NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Yeah, exactly.  Exactly.  I don't know if it's moral or not
what I did, but anyway, it was    the positive thing is that I managed to
find a good solution after, after so many ups and downs from both sides.  And
very emotional, very intensive match.

 Q.  We rarely ever see a guy's match that has six service breaks in a set.
 What was going on there?
 NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Well, it's crazy.  You know, it's crazy, really.  The
surface is very slow, first of all, and if you're not serving as Ljubicic or
Karlovic or these guys, then you will struggle a little bit, especially if
you have across your net Simon or Nadal.  You know, these guys were returning
really well.
 I found that I returned as well quite good, so it was kind of advantage for
the return player today.  But I managed to break through mentally, just tried
to push myself and convince myself to be aggressive and don't get to the long
rallies for no reason.
 That's what I did.  I played quite smart from 2 All in the third set.

 Q.  Was that the toughest match you've had for the last two weeks in China?
 NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Well, it's certainly one of the toughest, yeah.  You know,
Gilles is one of the trickiest players on the tour, because he always gets an
extra ball back and you have to earn every point.
 You know, he might look, you know, a bit strange the way he moves and plays,
but he's not an easy opponent at all.  His quality proves everything in last
year and a half.
 I was well aware of the match that we will have and we had in the past.  We
basically    every match we had in last year and a half was like this.  I
keep on winning and keep on playing those good shots in important moments,
and I think that's what matters.
 I think I was quite nervous throughout the whole match, because I knew that
I would have to work hard for most of the points.

 Q.  It would be easy for someone in your situation who's already qualified
for London, and you've won a title last week, to not take your foot off the
gas, but I don't think anyone would expect you to be out of your skin the
whole time.  That's just not your character.
 NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  No, I mean, look, we're all professionals.  In every match
we play, we want to win. That's the sport we're in.  That's our job.  That's
our life.  You know, there's many benefits from a win.  (laughter.)
 Regardless if it's 250 event or Grand Slam, I try to give my maximum always,
and I'm really happy that I've gained the momentum in the last two months.
 It's important, you know, just prior to Bercy and London, which is the most
important event in this period of the year.  And, as you said, I mean, I
qualified already, but that doesn't change anything in my approach to the
tournaments that I have now.

 Q.  Simon said earlier that every time you beat him in a tournament you go
on and win the championships.  What's your assessment for this championship
after winning the China Open?
 NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  I hope he's right every time.  (laughter.)  Yeah, we have a
good relationship.  He's a great guy, very funny guy.
 You know, I don't know if he told you about the socks.  I mean, I borrowed
him socks a couple of days ago.  So, yeah, I mean, look, we always have long
matches, interesting matches for the crowd, and I think that's what the
people want.  They want to see long rallies, long matches.
 They want to see somebody breaking the racquet like I did today and just
screaming all over the place and making a fool of myself, but I guess this is
sport.

 Q.  1 to 10, how do you rate your service game today?  It not seemed that
well.
 NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Well, in the first three games in the third set, 0.5.
 (laughter.)  And after, generally was 1.2, probably.  (laughter.)

 Q.  Do you enjoy playing guys like Gilles?  And if yes, are there other
players which you particularly enjoy matching up with?  Because it seems as
though you're nervous, but seems as though you're really having a good time
out there.
 NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  The only enjoyment I have is when I'm up a match point and
I see the guy cannot reach my ball when I win.  That's the only enjoyment I
have.
 I don't play enjoy playing anybody, because I got to put an effort in every
match, and everybody's playing tennis today, you know.  You know, in order to
stay at the level I am right now, I will have to beat all these guys.  I do
enjoy playing tennis, but I don't enjoy playing my opponents.

 Q.  But what I meant was the style of his game.  Do you find that it is a
fun style to match up against?
 NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  No.

 Q.  So you don't enjoy playing tennis?
 NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  No.  I told you I enjoy playing tennis, but I don't enjoy
playing anybody on the tour, and especially Gilles who gets always balls back
and wins some impossible points.

 Q.  How do you think about a semifinal?  You will play Davydenko again.
 Last year you play him in the Masters Cup final, so what do you think about
this?
 NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Um, I hope I will repeat the same success I had Masters Cup
last year against him.  You know, it's kind of a deja vu, playing with Simon
semis and him in finals.  So many years on the tour, Nikolay, and very
aggressive player and takes the ball very early.
 So I will have to have good tactics tomorrow and just be ready for
aggression from the other side of the net and hope I will have patience and
I'll be wise enough to win.