Novak Djokovic: Wimbledon champion said the final was "different" mentally

Novak Djokovic said his final victory over Wimbledon against Roger Federer was his most "mentally demanding match" – and he even had to tell himself that the crowd of supporters cheered him on.

Djokovic, 32, retained his title with a 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 13-12 (7-3) win over the winner 37 times.

With a duration of four hours and 57 minutes, it was the longest singles final at Wimbledon.

"When the crowd recites" Roger ", I hear" Novak, "said the Serb." That sounds silly, but it's like that. "

Djokovic – now five-time Wimbledon champion – added: "Mentally, it was a different level.

"It was probably the most demanding, mentally demanding game I played.

"It's a huge relief at the end, you work for, you live for those kinds of matches.

"They give meaning and value every minute you spend on the field to train and put yourself in this position and play the game with one of your greatest rivals of all time. "

"I always try to imagine myself winning" – blocking the noise

Djokovic saved two match points by defeating Federer in the first decisive game against the 12-12 final teams at the All England Club.

He acknowledged that mental training and visualization had helped him through the epic that had unfolded at the Central Court, adding that it was harder for him than the material damage to his body.

"I always try to imagine myself a winner, I think it has power," he said.

"Besides, beside the will, there must be a strength that does not come only from your physical self, but from your mental and emotional self.

"For me, at least, it is a constant battle inside, more than what is happening on the outside.

"It's really not the situations you encounter that concern you, but how you experience them internally, how you accept them, how you live them."

Federer's fever was rife in SW19's fields and on the central court itself, with the majority of the 15,000 people in the stands supporting the Swiss.

This is a situation to which Djokovic has been confronted many times and to which he has been deemed to react negatively, cutting his ear in response to the songs supporting the adversary Roberto Bautista Agut in half final.

In the final, Djokovic applauded his 52 unforced errors and nine double faults. He was booed when he questioned a decision of Hawk-Eye that prevailed in favor of Federer.

His celebrations after winning the title were somewhat deafened.

When asked if he was aware of favoritism towards Federer, Djokovic replied, "It's hard not to know.

"You have that kind of electric atmosphere, that kind of noise, especially in some decisive moments when we're almost equal, that's one way or another, and the crowd gets involved.

"If you have the majority of the crowd by your side, it helps, it gives you motivation, it gives you strength, it gives you energy, otherwise you have to find it at the same time. ; interior ".

"I have no obligation to play"

With 16 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic has reduced the gap between Federer (20) and Rafael Nadal (18) on the list of records.

Djokovic is five years younger at Federer and one year younger than Nadal. He says that they are "one of the main reasons he continues to compete.

"The fact that they have made history motivates me.This inspires me to try to do what they did, what they accomplished and even more," did he declare.

"Whether I am able to do it or not, I do not know, I do not really consider age as a restriction of any kind for me at least.

Djokovic refuses to set himself the goal – or to exceed – their records, because he has higher priorities in his life.

"It does not only depend on me, it also depends on the circumstances of life," he said. "I'm not just a tennis player, I'm a father and a husband.

"I have no obligation to play.I do not really have any commitment to playing tennis.I play it because I really love it and that I have the support of the people. closer to my life. "

How the tennis world reacted

Billie Jean King, six-time singles champion at Wimbledon: An epic masculine final. Congratulations to Novak Djokovic for his fifth singles title at Wimbledon. Roger Federer and Novak are two world-clbad players who have left everything on the ground.

Rod Laver, four-time singles champion at Wimbledon: An unbelievable finale Congratulations to Novak Djokovic for his fifth title at Wimbledon. You and Roger Federer have reached the highest level. A thrilling match between two incomparable grbad champions. Thank you for the good fight, played honestly and with ferocity.

Former Wimbledon champion Martina Hingis: PERMANENT OVATION for both players in this Wimbledon Final! What joy and what privilege to watch.

Kevin Anderson, vice-champion of Wimbledon in 2018: I have so much respect for Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. What a match … it would not have bothered me to see him continue a little longer. Congratulations to Novak for another Wimbledon.