Il serbo ha avuto qualche palla-break, anche nel finale, ma non è riuscito a sfruttarlo contro il…”muro spagnolo”. In precedenza aveva risposto a tante domande nel corso di un collegamento con la BBC. L’intervista dei due protagonisti in inglese subito dopo il match

Novak Djokovic ha esordito nel Masters di Shnaghai perdendo 6-4,6-4 da David Ferrer. L’altro giorno si era prestato a un collegamnto con la BBC: oltre 600 le domande pervenute. al tennista serbo come di consueto molto simpatico e brillante. Tanti i temi affrontati tra cui il bilancio della stagione appena trascorsa, i progetti per il prossimo anno, le immancabili imitazioni e… finalmente potrete scoprire la causa degli infiniti rimbalzi di palla che precedono il suoi servizi!

Il video di presentazione della Masters Cup 2007 a Shangai

D. Novak, è stato un grande anno per te – cinque titoli, una finale di Grande Slam e due semifinali – quanto ti è costato in termini di stanchezza?
La stagione non è ancora finita! Devo disputare il Masters a Shanghai, è il mio debutto in questa competizione. Ma dopo andrò in qualche posto dove nessuno potrà trovarmi!
Mi riposerò per circa due settimane, così dopo sarò pronto per cominciare la nuova stagione.
Non mi aspettavo di fare così bene all’inizio dell’anno, ma penso di aver dimostrato di essermi meritato la terza posizione nel ranking.
In effetti sono proprio esausto, ma il lavoro e la fatica sono ripagati con i risultati.
D. Come hai convissuto con la grande pressione che c’era su di te durante la finale dell’US Open contro Federer, paragonata ad esempio con quella delle finali di Miami o Montreal?
E’ molto difficile da spiegare. Un Grande Slam è qualcosa di speciale, con 128 giocatori, due settimane di torneo, una grande quantità di motivazioni e di pressioni, con così tanta gente che viene per vederti. E’ un grande “show” e c’è una grande atmosfera e gli Americani sono i migliori del mondo in questo (Nota di Michele Fimiani: Gianni Clerici avrebbe qualcosa da dire al riguardo, visto che ripetutamente durante Parigi Bercy si è lamentato dello spettacolo di luci e musica sottolineando come non si debba mai imitare gli Americani…)
Entrare nel Campo Centrale e vedere 23000 persone alzarsi in piedi per salutare me e Roger è stata un’emozione straordinaria, molto speciale.
D. Hai avuto molte opportunità in quel match, come i tanti set point non trasformati. Pensi che psicologicamente potrebbero essere un ostacolo in futuro?
 

E’ vero, ho tanti rammarichi per le occasioni perse. Ci sono stati punti in cui avrei potuto giocare meglio e altri sbagliati di poco, come il set point nel secondo set deciso dall’Occhio di Falco.
Ma mi piace vedere questi episodi pensando che potevo essere fuori dal torneo già al secondo turno quando ero sotto 2-1 e breack contro Stepanek.
Imparerò sia dalle cose negative che da quelle positive per provare a vincere la prossima volta!
D. Il più giovane quest’anno a Wimbledon, hai vinto molte partite lunghe, molte di queste sospese per pioggia, e poi hai dovuto ritirarti durante la semifinale con Nadal. Hai dei rammarichi per non aver concluso quell’incontro?
Quando ci ripenso sono dispiaciuto di non aver terminato quel match, ma penso di aver fatto la cosa giusta a ritirarmi. Non ce la facevo proprio più.
Al terzo turno ho giocato per quattro giorni e poi è durato tre ore, con Hewitt ho giocato quattro ore e con Baghdatis cinque. In quel momento ho capito che non potevo andare più avanti.
D. Sei già il numero tre del mondo. Pensi sia possibile inserirsi nelle prime due posizioni nel 2008?
Visto il modo in cui Roger sta giocando, non penso sia prevedibile che per il momento abbandoni la sua posizione. E Nadal, tre anni consecutivi numero due del mondo, sono sicuro che proverà ad insidiare Roger al vertice.Ma guido il gruppo che li segue e proverò a mantenere alto il livello delle mie prestazioni.
L’obiettivo della mia vita è diventare il numero uno e non sarò triste se non ci riuscirò il prossimo anno. Magari ce ne vorranno cinque di anni, ma sarebbe meraviglioso.
D. Tornando indietro di qualche anno, qualcuno ricorda di averti visto giocare le qualificazioni a Wimbledon con qualcosa attaccato al tuo naso a causa di alcuni disturbi respiratori. Hai del tutto risolto questi problemi?Il disturbo principale era dovuto alla deviazione del setto nasale. Mi resi conto della serietà del problema dopo un incontro allo Us Open contro Monfils quando collassai in campo.
Sapevo già di questo disturbo, ma non avevo mai giocato partite così lunghe. Così alla fine del 2005 andai a Milano per operarmi. Ci vollero un paio di mesi prima che le cose si risistemassero però adesso è tutto ok.
D. Il tuo gruppo musicale preferito?
I Rolling Stones e i Red Hot Chili Peppers.
D. Chi sono i tuoi migliori amici tra i giocatori del circuito?Sono in rapporto di amicizia con tantissimi ragazzi, ma specialmente con i tennisti provenienti dalla Serbia e dalla Croazia.
D. Chi sarà il prossimo personaggio che imiterai?Questo è un segreto!
D. Imiterai ancora Andy Murray?
(Sorridendo) Ci sto lavorando.
D. Ti stai facendo crescere la barba. C’è un motivo particolare…?
Solo un cambio di immagine!
D. E adesso la grande domanda. Tutti vogliono sapere perché fai rimbalzare la pallina così tante volte prima di servire!
Molte persone me lochiedono ma è difficile da dire perchè ormai è diventata un’abitudine.
Sui punti importanti provo a concentrarmi di più e con i rimbalzi della palla riesco a trovare la concentrazione.
A volte la faccio rimbalzare 20 volte, altre addirittura 30. Penso accada di più sulla terra perché lì il servizio è ancora più importante.
So che spesso annoio il mio avversario (e gli spettatori; Nota di MF), ma non voglio irritare nessuno, voglio solo concentrarmi!

Questo è invece quello che hanno detto, in inglese (non ho il tempo di tradurre, sorry, n.di UBS) Djokovic e Ferrer a fine partita. A Djokovic è stato chiesto anche di Di Mauro, ma lui non ha voluto esprimersi (come potete constatare)

Q.  Why did you make so many unforced errors today?                NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Well, it wasn’t my day.  Of course, this is sport.  We all have to get used to the wins and losses.  Of course, I was the favorite in this match, but he proved that he’s a great player and absolutely he deserved to win.                Of course, I didn’t play on the level I was supposed to play, that I played throughout all this year, of course but I’m still not out of the chances to get to the semifinal.                 Q.  I imagine this format is something a little unique for you.  I don’t know how often you’ve played round robin.  How interesting or difficult do you think it’s going to be coming back after the loss?               NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Well, I have played one round robin.  It was actually the first one in the start of the year in Adelaide and I won it.  I think it’s interesting format to have for the sport.  It gives me in this situation another opportunity to come back and try to play better and win some matches.                Hopefully, you know, I can have chances to get to the semifinal.                 Q.  You said in Bercy a week or so ago that you were feeling very, very tired and exhausted.  Has the week’s rest and the journey out here affected that at all?               NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Well, you know, it was a long year for me.  The period after Madrid was extremely difficult because I had this surgery of my throat (sic), which was pretty difficult.                But, anyway, I’m not really trying to find any excuses for today’s win.  I’m here for already five, six days, so I had enough time to get used to the conditions, you know, acclimatization.  Of course, I was ready.  I was feeling good before the match physically.                Mentally I felt kind of, you know, a bit more pressure than I usually have.  Obviously had an effect on my game.                 Q.  You are smart and seem to be a careful boy.  I think no pains, no gains.  Today you lose again.  I want to know how did you deal with such a stress?               NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  It is sport and pressure is part of this sport, part of the game, so you have to get used to it if you want to be a professional tennis player.                I always had very high goals, so pressure is something that it’s normal to have.  And, of course, as the third player of the world, I usually get as a favorite into most of the matches, so I have to deal with that pressure.                But, of course, it’s not easy.  I didn’t cope with that pressure today.                 Q.  Did you watch any of the first match?  What is your opinion of your next match against Richard Gasquet?               NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Yeah, I watched a little bit of the match.  I think Richard was playing really well first set.  It was a really difficult match for both of them.  You could see a lot of good points, a lot of talent on the court.                But in the end, you know, Rafa was the one to win and to fight all the way through.  Of course, I’m going to have difficult matches against both of them.  With the game I showed today, you know, I have to change a lot of things if I want to get through.                 Q.  In the second set, latter part of the second set, everybody was rooting for you.  Did you feel this motivation?  Which is bigger:  Pressure or motivation?               NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Well, depends from the situation.  Of course, I’m very thankful to the fans who have been supporting me today.  There was quite a lot.  There was really guys trying to lift me up and they were supporting me all the way through till the last point, so I’m really thankful for that.                I feel very nice here.  People are very polite to me.  The people greet me with a lot of emotion, so it’s really nice to be here.                You know, the question about motivation and pressure?  It’s kind of difficult to compare, because what is bigger?  I mean, if you are in a tournament like this, as a young player, as the first time coming here, the first appearance, of course you feel a lot of motivation to succeed and do well.  And that’s what I feel.  And I have a big will to get far.                But, again, if you come here as a young player and the third player of the world, one of the players that is probably the favorite in the match, then there is a lot of pressure.                Unfortunately that pressure was pretty big today.  But, again, I played against a player who really deserved to win, so there is no excuses.                 Q.  How difficult is it to play against Ferrer because he returns everything?               NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  You know, it is difficult.  You know, he showed a couple of times this year that he deserves to be in the top 10 and he has the quality to play against all the players.  He’s giving a hard time to any player on the world.  He showed that on a couple of occasions on any surface.                I knew that it’s not going to be an easy match.  I didn’t underestimate him or anybody, of course.  And obviously he was very motivated.  You know, it’s even his first time in Shanghai, in the Masters Cup, and he didn’t have anything to lose.                You could see that he was moving really well.  He was aggressive.  He kind of surprised me in the start, the way he played.                 Q.  Can you comment on the case of Alessio Di Mauro?                NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  No, I have nothing to say about that really.  Bad luck for him.                Q.  Do you think the punishment is too long?               NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  I have nothing to say.                 Q.  You are the first player to practice on the center court.  After that you said the court is pretty slow for your style.  Do you think it was still a problem for you today?               NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  No, actually it has been changed.  If you heard the other part of the interview I said after five days is probably going to be pretty fast, and that’s what it is right now.  The balls are really kind of hard, so it’s difficult to get the control here.  It’s a pretty fast game, pretty fast conditions, which suits to my game.                But, again, I was unpatient, too much unpatient today.  Unfortunately, I lost.                 Q.  You did have a chance to break David in the first game of the second set.  In the last game of the match, you still got a breakpoint.  What happened in that key moment?               NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Well, what happened?  Obviously I felt I was close.  I had a couple of breakpoints throughout most of the match.  And then in the last game I had the big opportunity, and we played some great points.                Obviously he was fighting, fighting all the way through.  Maybe I was trying too much in some moments, especially on that match point in the end.  But it’s okay.  You know, we are turning a new page and I’m getting to the new match, and hopefully I can do better in the next match.                 Q.  If Nadal would invite you to go out, would you go with him?               NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  I have no answer for that question.                        D. FERRER/N. Djokovic            6‑4, 6‑4          An interview with:          DAVID FERRER                       THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.  

            Q.  Today your quickness on the court was incredible.  Do you think that wore Novak down?  He looked tired early in the match.

               DAVID FERRER:  No, I don’t think so.  No, my game is for to run a lot, no?  And Djokovic, he play with more power, no?  I don’t think so I was tired to him.                I think in the first set he play the first game with a little bit nervous.  Maybe I used to be this one, no?  I play with confidence all the match.  I played really, really good.  

            Q.  You won in Tokyo.  Your late‑season form is very good.  What do you think is the key to your form over the last part of the season?

               DAVID FERRER:  I don’t know, no?  Physic, mentally, with mind I am with very confidence, no?  Maybe the final of the year, playing very, very good tennis in Paris.  I played very good.                I don’t know, no?  Maybe was the confidence.  The confidence is very important.  The physic, no?  It’s the final of the season.  I am very great physic.  

            Q.  Today belongs to Spanish players.  I noticed Robredo is watching Nadal’s game and Nadal then watched your game.  How close of friends are you?

               DAVID FERRER:  We are good friends, no?  I am happy because Rafa won.  Me won.  It’s important for the tennis in Spain, no, two guys won their first matches.                You know, Rafa and me plays the next match.  It’s different, no?  But I think so we can to do, no?  We can to pass for the semifinal.  But the matches are very close.  You know, the first match you don’t have to think nothing more.  Just the next match.  

            Q.  Today you and Rafa Nadal won matches.  You two had six encounters in the past.  Did you gain something out of it?  Did you learn some lessons to beat him next time?

               DAVID FERRER:  I need to run a lot for to beat to him, no?  Just this, no?  Because Rafa is the No. 2 of the world.  It’s the favorite.  If he plays with a good level I think it’s a difficult match, no, for me.  

            Q.  For the last couple of years, Roger and Rafael have been a good distance ahead of the next group of players.  Do you see the distance tightening up in the next year?  Do you think the very top of the game is becoming more competitive right now?

               DAVID FERRER:  Well, I don’t know.  But I think so Roger and Rafa, it’s another level, no?  They are playing very great.  This year, the last year, two years ago…  I think so.                Maybe Djokovic is more close than Rafa or Federer, no?  But I don’t think so the other players is more closer.                   

Questo articolo è stato pubblicato Domenica, 11 Novembre 2007 alle 17:49 e classificato in Master Series, Master Shanghai, Personaggi e Campioni, Video ed Immagini. Puoi seguire i commenti a questo articolo tramite il feed RSS 2.0. Puoi inviare un commento.