Novak Djokovic: Playing with Roger Federer, Nadal, Murray made me improve
Novak Djokovic was asked if his generation made up of him, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer could be considered the best ever. The Serb was unsure of giving an answer. "I do not remember the older generations from the 50s, 60s when Rod Laver played. And he is still the most successful tennis player of all time (as he is) the only one who won the Calendar Grand Slam twice," said the 31-year-old. "Tennis was different back then, it is much more physical nowadays, back then three out of the four Grand Slams were played on grass, and you cannot compare. You used to play with more touch, more talent, more finesse. Today it's very physical, more grinding, grueling, exchanges from the baseline, not many players come to the net, so it has changed. Technology has advanced, the records helped us too to control the ball better but it's definitely exciting to be part of it and I think because of the fact that I was sharing this era with Federer, Nadal, and Andy Murray, I managed to improve, get better and become a better player."
Asked what being a winner means to him, Djokovic replied: "Being a winner does not necessarily mean that you have to be a winner only on the tennis matches. For me being a winner means respecting the sport, loving the sport that allows you to be where you are. This sport offered me so much and I am trying to give something in return, always respectful to your colleagues and there is no secret in the fact that when you come back home from a successful day at work and if you win a match there is no better feeling when you look at yourself in the mirror and you say, Okay, it's great to be a winner."
Djokovic is starting his 2019 clay season at the Monte Carlo Masters this week.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2Ul0v86
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