Rolex Paris Masters: “one of the most special weeks of my career”, relishes Djokovic

“Given what has happened over the last 6-7 days, this victory is definitely one of the most special ones I have achieved in Masters 1000. It has been a difficult week on and off the court on the court, with the (gastric) virus which hit me, which took away a lot of my energy. Usually I don't have this kind of virus. For 24 hours, I worked with my team to try to recover, preparing myself each time for my next match. But I was able to get that extra energy when I needed it the most, especially Thursday, Friday and Saturday because I was really close to losing those matches at a certain point. It's fantastic to see that I was able to get that feeling on court after 3 matches 3 days in a row, in three sets, which lasted over 2 and a half hours”

“I'm proud of what I've accomplished, but I'm moving on right away. Fortunately or unfortunately, this is the way I operate. It's the right mentality for me to always move forward. As long as I'm on the circuit, I want to reap victories, I want to play at the highest level and win the Grand Slams, the Masters, I don't even know where I am in my career to tell you the truth. I feel like every victory is worth double today. »

Also read: Rolex Paris Masters: “Novak is playing at a whole new level,” says Dimitrov

“For me, drinking a lot is the key to all problems, but also diet can help. I couldn't eat much these last few days. I only ate once a day and just needed to survive on fluids. Everything I ate came out right away to say it all and then of course you get headaches, you feel dizzy, you feel weak but for a professional athlete, when you're on the court, it's very clear: Either we forfeit, we avoid the match, or we draw all our energy from the adrenaline we feel, we draw our energy from the public, from everything else, to take control and that's what I tried to do. Today is the first day I feel better and it’s behind me.”

“You have to ask the other players. Everything that happens in your private life, your physique and therefore what you feel off the court has an impact on what you experience on the court. I tried to do my best this week and I think I did given the circumstances. Did I play my best tennis in every match? I do not think so. My level wasn't at the level I usually show at the biggest tournaments, but hey, it's one of those weeks where you just have to accept the circumstances and fight to survive one more day. »

“I'm trying to get everything I can get. I need just one win, it seems to me, to move up to number 1 at the end of the season. Now I will put down my racket, spend time with my family, recharge my batteries and then go to Turin where each match will be a bit like a final. I had a great run last year, I like playing there. I think it goes down well with the Italian public. I haven't lost many matches since the Wimbledon final, I hope to finish in style this season but yes, finishing number 1 and the Davis Cup, those are my two main goals.

Comments collected at a press conference