Novak Djokovic: ‘Such a difficult match. Federer? There is a possibility this could be his year’

‘An extremely difficult match for several reasons’. That’s how Novak Djokovic calls his first encounter in Rome against Stephane Robert, beaten 7/5 7/5. ‘The conditions were very tough – the World No. 1 admitted – The player that I played against was very unpredictable with his shots. Obviously he didn’t have anything to lose, so he was going for some shots that were amazing, and with these windy conditions you don’t get too much rhythm. So it wasn’t easy for me to find my way through the match, but I think I have done well staying mentally out there and fighting my way back in the second. When it mattered the most, I managed to make him play an extra shot and pull this one through.’

Djokovic could play Nadal in the quarter-finals, but he only thinks match by match: ‘We both have to get there. So I don’t think it’s necessary to talk about that now. When and if we get there, then we can talk about. And the same for Paris.’ During his press conference, Federer said that this is not his year in Rome. Maybe next year. Asked on whether he thinks it’s a strategic move or if he really believes that, said: ‘ I don’t know. He’s still in the tournament, so there is a possibility that it’s his year. I don’t know why he said that, but he probably had a good reason’. Djokovic finally affirmed that it’s not easy to remain healthy: ‘If you really want to play at the top and if you …

continue reading in source www.tennisworldusa.org