On being at the top for so long: “There’s no secret behind it. You know, I’m definitely a very talented player [laughter].
“I always knew I had it in my hand. The question is do I have it in my mind and in my legs, you know. That’s something I had to work extremely hard at.
“Now I feel like obviously I’m being pushed a great deal by the new generation coming up. I always feel sort of tennis changes sort of every five years. Because when I came on tour, matches were played very differently. It was more of a bluff game, guys serving well, but there was always a weakness you could go to. Today that doesn’t exist anymore. I think that’s also thanks to guys like Murray. They’ve made me a better player, because I think this has been one of my finest performances, you know, in a long time.”
On the match: “I think the first set was very interesting on a mental and on a physical level. I thought he played at a very high intensity. I think the first set could have gone either way. So for me to get the first break and play well the way I did… was obviously crucial for the match.
“I definitely had to work extremely hard so I would pick the right shot at the right time. For instance, on the [second] match point I decided to hit a dropshot. You got to be crazy to do that… But then after losing that point, I’m thinking, ‘My God, he just grabbed the trophy out of my hands. I might end up losing this thing.’ Two or three points later, I’m the winner after all.”
On his pre-match comments putting pressure on Murray: “If you think it was a mental thing, it was not the case, you know. But you ask me a question, I’ll give you a straight answer. That’s how the press conference was after the Tsonga match. It’s not an easy thing to do to win your first Grand Slam. That’s not mental, you know, trying to screw with his head, you know. It’s just a tough thing, you know. The next one is not gonna get any easier. But his game is so good that I’m convinced he will win one, you know.”
On relating to Murray’s post-match tears: “I mean, it happened to me, too, you know… The U.S. Open is very loud, so you don’t maybe start thinking too much of, ‘How did I play, am I disappointed?’ Here in Australia or Wimbledon, it’s very different. It’s very quiet. It’s very respectful. Standing ovation. It builds up in you as the trophy ceremony goes by.
“I thought he was actually doing fine until he told me, ‘I think there will be some tears.’ I’m like, ‘Don’t worry, it will be all right.’ And he actually did. You know, in a way it was hard to watch, but at the same time I like seeing players who care for the game. I don’t know. It’s nice to see, you know. So you wish only the best for him.”
On going forward: “I won’t just put the entire calendar just around trying to win the calendar Grand Slam. I mean, it’s something if it happens, it does, it’s great; but it’s not something that’s like my number one goal. Not at all. It’s the same as I haven’t put a number on how many Grand Slams I want to try to win. Whatever happens happens.
“I really want to try to enjoy, you know, my end to my career, because I’ve reached already so many goals I thought were never possible. I really want to just enjoy the tour, and that’s what I’m doing at the moment. Obviously as a dad as well even more so.
“But I try to be good for the game, leave it better off than when I arrived, even though that’s hard. I’m very thankful to the legends of the game who created this great platform for us. We did have another record crowd attendance at the Australian Open.
