Feast of titles is largely down to diet change – Djokovic

BELGRADE, (Reuters) – A change of diet has played a  major role in Novak Djokovic’s unbeaten run this year, the world  number two said yesterday after receiving a hero’s welcome from  fans in his home town.
The 23-year-old Serb, who has won 24 straight matches to  land the Australian Open and Dubai Championship titles and  Masters Series events in Miami and Indian Wells, said a doctor  who joined his team eight months ago had improved his fitness.

“His name is Igor Cetojevic, he is a nutritionist and he’s  done a great job in changing my diet after we established I am  allergic to some food ingredients like gluten,” Djokovic told  reporters on the opening day of the Serbia Open

“It means I can’t eat stuff like pizza, pasta and bread. I  have lost some weight but it’s only helped me because my  movement is much sharper now and I feel great physically.

“A lot of people have been guessing and speculating what the  secret formula of my good form was but there is no secret, it’s  just that all the pieces have fallen into place after years of  hard work and we are now reaping the rewards,” added Djokovic.

The Serb paid tribute to his entire support staff, saying it  was their hard work that had made him the player he is.
“I have a great team of people around me,” he said. “I have  unreserved faith in their instructions and trust them  completely.
“I have also matured as a player and a person. I feel more  confident and more consistent than ever because I am capable of  holding my own against the world’s best players under any  circumstances.

“That wasn’t the case earlier … whenever I needed to be  consistent against (Roger) Federer and (Rafa) Nadal in the  latter stages of grand slam events I was unable to stay  psychologically balanced and confident.”

SPECIAL PLACE

Novak Djokovic

Djokovic is back in Belgrade for the first time since he  steered Serbia to their first Davis Cup title in December and  was greeted by hundreds of fans as he made a trip to nearby  Mount Avala to pose with the massive Serbia Open trophy.

He had photos taken and signed dozens of autographs as the  crowd greeted one of Serbia’s most popular public figures.

“The Serbia Open will always have a special place in my  heart because we rarely get a chance to play in front of our own  people, it’s only this tournament and the Davis Cup,” said  Djokovic.

“That’s why I expect them to turn up on centre court to  watch all Serbian players taking part in the tournament, which  is getting stronger and more competitive every year.

“I had to retire very early in last year’s event because I  was unfit but I feel very well now and I am looking forward to  my first match on Wednesday.”