Novak Djokovic has reached the final in Eastbourne and says that he wants to win a title again.
Since falling in the third round a year ago at Wimbledon, Djokovic has captured just two tournaments—winning Canada in August and Doha in January.
“I haven’t had too many opportunities to fight for the trophy,” said the 12-time Grand Slam champion to press in Eastbourne. “I haven’t had too many finals. I’s a good feeling, and it’s something I’m working very hard for, as all the other players.
“It comes in the right moment, because I need to build that kind of level of confidence and the matches won obviously help that,” he added. “And coming into Wimbledon, I’m hoping that I can continue in this path of raising the performance and the quality of tennis.”
In the first half of the year in 2016, he won six titles: Doha, the Australian Open, three ATP World Tour Masters 1000s and Roland Garros. But then Djokovic was stunned in the third round against the American Sam Querrey in four sets at Wimbledon. Right after that, he began to stumble.
At Roland Garros a few weeks ago, the now No. 4-ranked Djokovic reached the second week, but he lost pretty easily against Dominic Thiem.
While he entered the tournament looking to improve his play going into Wimbledon, Djokovic says that Eastbourne is still important.
“Grand Slams are different from any other tournament, but a tournament is a tournament," he said. "Especially for a top player, to go on the court, [whatever] the level of competition or the category of the event, you always are expected to deliver. There is that level of responsibility that you’re aware of.
“Of course... it’s always about how I feel personally and whether or not I’m enjoying my tennis life and enjoying playing tennis,” he added. “That’s the No. 1 priority, but it’s not only about me. I’m very, very much conscious. So that is no different here nor Wimbledon or any other event.”
Djokovic will play Gael Monfils in the final.
