World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic has admitted that he felt under pressure while facing world number two Roger Federer in the Indian Wells final on Sunday.
World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic has admitted that he felt under pressure while facing world number two Roger Federer in the Indian Wells final on Sunday.
Djokovic defeated Federer in three sets to clinch his 50th career singles ATP Tour title but at one point during the match he couldn't stop his hands from shaking during a break as he had just double faulted three times to lose a second-set tiebreaker to the Swiss in the tournament final.
The Serb said that he managed to overcome the frustration of handing that tiebreak to Federer with three double faults in crucial moments. He claimed that they are all human and they all fall under pressure, Sport24 reported.
The world number one, now back-to-back Indian Wells Masters champion, described the victory as a roller-coaster of emotions, as he went from the shaking hands episode to smashing a racquet in anger in the third set against Federer, to the euphoria of beating his biggest rival on one of the biggest stages in tennis.
Djokovic claimed that he managed to regroup, but insisted that that is sport. He said that those things happen under pressure sometimes, adding that knowing that he was close to victory, making three double faults, the pressure, it was all part of it.
But, the Serb said that he managed to calm down and get calmer kind of movement in the third set.
Djokovic said that when he goes through those moments, when he really feels the pressure getting to him, he reminds himself of the bigger picture. He said that he doesn't believe that these challenges that he goes through are actually harming him or that he finds that is a burden on his back.
Djokovic claimed that it is a privilege because he earned it, adding that he earned the position to be in.
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