THE MODERATOR: Novak, welcome back to the Australian Open. We just had an interview where they reminded you that 20 years ago it was your first time here. How does it feel to be back with 10 titles?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, it's a 20-year anniversary I guess this year. It's a nice number of years that I've been coming to Australia, the place where I had the greatest Grand Slam success.
Back in 2005, it was the first time I qualified for any Grand Slam and played Marat Safin in the center court. It was a pretty quick match for me. He later on won the tournament, but it was a very unique experience that allowed me to dream big and keep on believing that I can one day win a slam.
Three years later I won my first slam on the same court. Just lovely memories. I always try to relive those moments. It's a pleasure to be back.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. In a couple of weeks you're going to Denmark to compete with the Davis Cup team, to play Holger Rune. In Denmark we don't have any ATP tournaments. You are coming, one of the world's biggest stars. How much do you look forward to going to Copenhagen and to play Davis Cup?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I hope I'll be there. The plan is now I'm in the team. But because it's only few days after Australian Open finals, we have to see how I play here, how I feel. Hopefully I can be available to our captain and play.
Holger and I get along very well off the court. We played against each other quite a few times in different tournaments. Obviously great for Denmark sport and for Denmark tennis that Holger is there and is doing well the last few years, is climbing up the rankings, working his way to have even better career in the future.
He actually sent me a photo of the arena because he was playing with Ruud one of the exhibition matches few weeks ago. Once the draw came out, he was actually there training in the arena. He sent me a photo and said, We are waiting for you here end of January, beginning of March [sic].
Yeah, that would be amazing if we got a chance to face each other there.
Q. The new coaching partnership between Andy Murray and yourself took the tennis world by storm. What do you expect or see such an accomplished player and former rival bring to your game as a coach?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it's a pleasure and honor to have Andy as a coach. I was thinking about the names that I would like to have next to me for this season. I wanted to have somebody that won multiple slams. The list is not that long. Somebody that really understands what it means to win a slam, what it means to face the adversity, the pressure, the expectations.
Andy just finished his playing career six months ago. It was somewhat of a surprise for him when I called him. But I think his tennis IQ is very high. We all know that. He has done an incredible job, particularly after he got the surgery, his artificial hip, winning tournaments after that, playing on challenger level, someone that is a legend of the sport, just showing everyone what it means to be a champion in a real sense of that word.
He really has inspired myself and a lot of people around the world. I think that his unique perspective on my game is the fact that he has played me for 25 years. First time we faced each other was when we were 12 years old. He knows the evolution of my game, I guess the weaknesses and strengths of my game.
He also knows the game, the tennis game, of the biggest players in the world right now because he has just recently retired as a player. He was practicing and also playing against all the best guys in the world up to recently. I guess he's up to speed with what's happening on the tour.
We are just still getting to know each other on the court. We spent eight days in the pre-season period and now last four days here in Melbourne.
He gives me motivation, inspires me really to be spending time on the court. We communicate a lot. We talk about a lot of different things. He's trying to understand me on different levels, speaking to other team members that know me better.
He's very meticulous. He's a very dedicated professional. So far I've been enjoying this collaboration, yeah.
Q. You've obviously had so much success here, it goes without saying. I'm going to ask one of those cliché questions, but if you had to pick one moment over your 20-year time here, what would be your best memory here at Melbourne Park?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I guess the first time is always the most special one. Winning 2008, my first slam here, overall first slam in my career and first slam here in Australia. Then probably the last slam I won here in '23, yeah.
I mean, each win is special and unique in its own way. So it's kind of hard for me to pick. But if I have to, it's probably the first and the last one.
Q. You had a teenager last year in the first round. He was a tough opponent, gave you a tough challenge. You are up against another teenager this year, Nishesh. Any comments on how you see him as an opponent?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, to be honest, I don't know much about him. I watched him play yesterday actually for the first time. I think he's playing semifinals of New Zealand tournament now. I saw that he's very quick. He's very talented player. He's got great hands. He's very dynamic. He can serve well, hit spots. Just very complete game overall.
Yeah, I mean, it's going to be his, I guess, first time in main draw of the Grand Slam, wild card, playing on the center court. Not much to lose. I'm sure that he is going to be really pumped to make a statement.
I have to obviously approach that match very seriously, like any other, and do my best to get a win. Also in the process, enjoy the nice moment of sharing the court with him.
Q. You talk about still kind of getting to know Andy on a different level. Is there anything in particular you've learnt about him that's new or anything that surprised you about Andy as a coach?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I mean, we still are at the very beginning of the partnership as a coach-player. Just been 10, 12 days together pre-season and here in Melbourne. We still haven't had any official match where he's coaching me.
Last night when I played Sascha, it was interesting to see him in the coaching corner. Obviously was an exhibition, so not the same. Still, there's little bit of an introduction to what's expecting us on Monday, to that feeling.
As a side note, I think it's great that Australian Open introduced the coaching box on the court at the same level in the corner. I think it's great. That's where Andy and the coaching staff will sit.
I'm excited. Excited to start the tournament with him. As I said few minutes ago, there's a lot of communication about every shot in the game, my game, tactics, mental approach, communication on the court during matches, practice sessions.
He's daily spending quite a bit of time with other team members, trying to get synchronized with them. So far has been only positive experience for me, to be honest. I'm very pleasantly surprised with his dedication and professionalism, considering he's never had the experience of working as a tennis coach.
It comes natural to him. His IQ generally and tennis IQ is very high. He observes and speaks when is most important. I think he understands the moment when he needs to say something and what to say and what to ask.
So far it has been great practically. As I say, we've been trying to I guess blend in in a best and most effective way. So obviously doing it on the court in front of hundreds if not thousands of people that are watching practice sessions as well is a good way for us I guess to prepare for the matches and him to see how I react in some practice matches.
So yeah, I look forward. Let's see what will happen. But I must say at the beginning it was a bit of a strange feeling to be able to share the insights with him, not just about the game but about how I feel, about life in general. Not in a negative way, but just in a way I have never done that with him because he was always one of my greatest rivals (smiling). We were always kind of hiding things from each other.
Now all cards are open on the table. That's what he demands. I am 100% supportive of that kind of communication method where you share everything because that's the best way for him to understand you and to actually help you in whatever way he can.
Q. Reilly Opelka, who you played recently in Brisbane. He was saying you sent him some messages while he was off the tour recovering, and that meant a lot to him. What made you want to reach out to him? Also your recent experience with him as an opponent.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I love Reilly. I think he's such a great guy. I've actually appreciated a lot his support over the years. He's been saying a lot of nice things in the media about me, giving support in social media when I was facing some difficulties.
So I try to be supportive of him and the couple years of injury struggles that he had. I love his personality and his interest for art, different things than just sport.
I don't appreciate him beating me in Brisbane. He just played an amazing match. It was great to see him playing so well. I actually met him yesterday and asked him about his back, because apparently that's bothering him now. Not easy for a guy who is 6'10", 11", to play every single day I guess. That's a lot of I guess physical burden for him.
Hopefully he can stay healthy and fit because we all know that his serve is lethal. I was very surprised with his movement and his game from back of the court. That's something that really surprised me and my team and everyone. He was able to rally and play with a lot of depth, not making too many errors.
If he keeps going like that, he's super dangerous, like Isner was in his best days, can beat anyone on any surface, to be honest. It's so much pressure to play somebody who has such a dominant serve.
Q. On the poisoning accusations, do you have any evidence linking your heavy-metal blood levels to the food you were served in hotel detention three years ago?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Look, the GQ article came out online yesterday. I think it's a February issue, so it's coming out in print version.
I've done that interview many months ago. I would appreciate not talking more in detail about that, as I would like to focus on the tennis and why I'm here.
If you want to see what I've said and get more info on that, you can always revert to the article.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports