Novak Djokovic: "Don't be angry with Alcaraz. I'm sure he will win the Davis Cup one day"

When it's time for questions in Spanish, since Novak Djokovic, who after winning the United States Open, already accepted one from TVE, and now, in Valencia, is willing to accept two others, the Serbian records a voice note to incorporate to his learning the term “miss”. The question was how much he misses Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The response was, in more than careful Spanish: “I don't know how much I miss you.”. But tennis, yes. “They are legends who have left an immense legacy in sport in general.”

Djokovic, who this Friday will lead Serbia in its qualifying match against Spain, offers more than 40 minutes of press conference at La Fonteta, in a tone of maximum cordiality. Not in vain, he has conquered his twenty-fourth major title and is in his 390th week as number 1 in the world, a rank that he has snatched from CarlosAlcaraz. He comes out in defense of the Murcian, absent due to fatigue in Valencia. “In 20 years of career, I have not always played for Serbia. Don't be angry with him. Sometimes you feel tired. I am sure that if Spain qualifies for the finals in Malaga, it will be there. In any case, I also think that at some point he will win the Davis Cup with Spain,” he responds, first in English, and then in Spanish.

The Davis format

Nole also comes out in defense of Gerard Piqué, president of Kosmos, the company that organized the Davis Cup until last year, and remembers that all decisions are made by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).. “This format is good, but it needs adjustments. It's been four or five years since Serbia last played at home. Players must be consulted. We don't participate enough,” he points out in relation to the current Davis Cup competition system.

He reiterates that his priority, at this point in his career, is at 36 years old, “to win as many Grand Slam tournaments as possible” and represent his country.. “If I finish number 1 in the world it will be a bonus, but it is not a priority,” he points out about an achievement that he has already achieved over seven years.