AFP, Melbourne :
Novak Djokovic likened his relationship with the Australian Open to “a love affair” Sunday, admitting he still gets nervous walking on court despite his years at the top.
The 33-year-old opens his campaign for an unprecedented ninth title at Melbourne Park, and 18th Grand Slam crown, on Monday against France’s Jeremy Chardy, and he is already feeling jittery.
“Every match, every match. Every single match,” he said when asked he still got nervous despite being in his 17th Australian Open.
“I don’t want to speak on behalf of the other athletes, but I just feel like it’s almost impossible to eliminate that kind of pressure, anticipation, the nerves coming into any match really for an athlete.
“It’s just that I managed over the years to train myself,” he added.
“I think with the experience and with also the dedication that I had off the court to the mental preparation, that helped me react better to those kind of emotions.
“But it’s still there. I don’t think it’s ever going to go away. I mean, especially when the occasion is big, when you’re playing for the biggest trophies.”
Djokovic claimed his 17th Grand Slam in last year’s gripping final in Melbourne, when he came back from 2-1 down to edge Austria’s Dominic Thiem in five sets.
It was his only major success last year as looks to close in on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who both have 20 each.
