Djokovic on new tennis rule: "I wouldn't feel comfortable"

Djokovic reiterated that tennis must find ways to attract a younger audience and that certain changes to the sport are necessary.

“There are several ways for tennis to progress. We need to think about the format of competitions and the rules on the ATP and WTA tours. The question is how to attract new, younger fans who have shorter attention spans. Tennis is a dynamic and exciting sport, but matches sometimes last three, four, or even five hours, which is not appealing to everyone in a time when people have endless content on their screens. This has been discussed for 15 years, but little has changed. I am always open to discussions and to using my influence to help improve our sport,” Djokovic said.

When asked whether he would agree to wear a microphone during matches, as seen in some other sports, the Serbian player was not enthusiastic about the idea.

“I have no problem with it during training, but during a match I don’t think I would feel comfortable.”

He also spoke about his dominant win over Stefanos Tsitsipas, who had previously said that the gap between the two of them is now larger than it was before.

“I think Stefanos is not currently in the form he was in when he was in the top five in the world and reaching Grand Slam finals. It is clear he is still searching for confidence. Today I raised my level, while he did not play his best, and that was enough to win in three sets,” Novak explained.

Djokovic was particularly emotional when speaking about Serena Williams’ return to the court.

“What Serena is doing is incredible and historic. I have always been a big fan of hers. People forget she is 44 years old, that she has had two children and has not played for years. Instead of criticism, we should enjoy the fact that one of the greatest of all time is playing tennis again. It is a huge gift for our sport. I hope we will see her many more times, maybe already at the US Open,” the Serbian star added.

Djokovic also addressed the two slips he experienced during the match, stressing that falls are a natural part of playing on grass.

“You tend to fall more on grass than on any other surface. When the roof is closed, the court becomes even more slippery due to humidity. I was lucky not to suffer a more serious injury. These things cannot really be predicted or fully prevented,” Djokovic said.

Finally, he expressed his wish to play his next Wimbledon match outdoors.

“It is simply my preference. I haven’t had the chance to play outdoors yet, and I hope that will change soon,” he concluded.