Vajda : "I give him all the credit" / Vajda : "Je lui tire mon chapeau"

I talked to Marian Vajda after Novak Djokovic qualified for the semi-final in Beijing, beating John Isner (6-2, 6-2). Obviously, I met a pretty happy and proud coach !

It was quite the performance from Novak on the return against Isner. Is it possible that he's still improving ?!

(He laughs) Well yes but it's also understandable because he just finished the season number 1and he's pretty much relax. I think  the improvement is much better on his service game because he always returned very well but he never had as a good serve as he does right now. Now combining his return with this, his game is improving a lot. Plus he won 3 Grand Slams so it gives him a lot of confidence.

Crédit : China Open

How is he still that motivated at the end of the season and after having basically won everything this year ?

Because he's not playing too many tournaments. He's playing 16 tournaments this year, last year he played 17. He's scheduling very well, has time to rest in between. Obviously he's committed to play the remaining of the tournaments on the ATP Tour and he doesn't want to give up on the season. He has to be there and also he enjoys playing so much. Basically he loves what he does.  Here he won 5 times but he always finds the good attitude when he steps on the centre court, he feels very good and the people give him a lot of support. He feels very comfortable on the court.

I know you don't like to compare but do you feel he's stronger now than in 2011 ?

He's much more solid. Much more solid, much more confident, much more experienced. I think it's much better this year because he proved it with much more dominance.

Are you sometimes surprised of how good he did this year ?

Obviously his goal is to be the best player, the n°1. It was always the desire. He was just questioning how much he can defend his position. But recently I like his attitude towards practice, all the planning, to be not only a great tennis player but also balanced in his life. He's very well balanced and very well satisfied. This is the consequence of all of that. But Novak is one of the few who likes to play every tournament he's in ! (laughs) I don't know how he's doing it, I really have to give him all the credit for this ! There are bad days and good days for everybody but once he steps on the court he always tries to improve and loves to see things from different perspective. For him it's always exciting, enjoyable so it's fantastic to see. 

Do you really think he'll catch up Roger Federer and the 17 Grand Slam titles ?

Well... It's so far away... But as he's playing now and as I see him for the future, he can do it. I think it's a little bit "easier" (he makes the quotation marks with his hands and laughs) now that he has reached the 10.

VERSION FRANÇAISE

Vajda : “Je lui tire mon chapeau !”

C’était une performance assez incroyable de Novak au retour : il progresse encore ?

(Il rit) Oui mais je crois que c’est aussi facile à comprendre car il est assuré de finir la saison n°1 mondial, a gagné trois tournois du Grand Chelem donc il est très détendu et en grande confiance. Il a toujours très bien retourné mais je pense que le plus gros progrès cette année a été le service. Il n’a jamais aussi bien servi qu’en ce moment et, combiné au retour, ça a tout changé.

Crédit : China Open

Comment fait-il pour être toujours aussi motivé en cette fin de saison après avoir tant gagné?

Parce qu’il n’a pas joué beaucoup de tournois cette saison : 16 en 2015, 17 en 2014. Il a très bien construit son programme, a le temps de se reposer entre les tournois. Et puis là il est toujours investi, n’a pas l’impression que sa saison se soit arrêtée à l’US Open. Il aime tellement la compétition, il adore ce qu’il fait.

Le trouvez-vous encore meilleur qu’en 2011 ?

Il est bien plus solide, bien plus confiant et a bien plus d’expérience. Donc oui je pense qu’il est meilleur qu’en 2011 parce qu’il a encore plus dominé.

Il vous épate encore ?

Vous savez son but a toujours été d’être le meilleur, le n°1. Il fallait donc défendre son statut. Mais récemment j’ai encore plus apprécié son attitude aux entraînements, sur la gestion du calendrier, et par le fait qu’il n’est pas seulement un grand joueur de tennis mais aussi quelqu’un d’équilibré hors du court. Il est très heureux et ça se sent. Mais oui il a toujours envie de jouer, veut gagner chaque tournoi où il est engagé et franchement parfois je ne sais pas comment il fait ! (rire). Je lui tire mon chapeau car il trouve toujours une motivation. Chacun a des mauvais jours, c’est normal, mais dès qu’il met le pied sur le court il essaie de progresser. Il prend toujours beaucoup de plaisir sur le court et c’est fantastique à voir.

Pensez-vous qu’il puisse vraiment rattraper Roger Federer et ses 17 Majeurs ?

C’est encore très loin… Mais vu comment il joue maintenant et comment je le vois évoluer dans le futur, il peut le faire. Je pense que c’est devenu un peu plus “facile” (il rit) maintenant qu’il a atteint les 10.