THE MODERATOR: Novak, welcome back to Indian Wells, your first tournament since the Australian Open final. Tell us how you're feeling.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, it's good. Nice to be in America again, and Indian Wells, obviously one of the two Sunshine Doubles. I have had a fair amount of success in this tournament, and it has always been one of my favorite tournaments to visit. I think I'm not the only player honestly with the great weather, facilities, just where we are, location, and proximity to LA, one of the best cities to visit, and the history of the event, Tennis Paradise. It's really a Tennis Paradise here, so rightfully named that way.

You know, I'm enjoying myself, and hopefully I can have a good tournament.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Serena Williams has entered the doping protocol again.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: She's coming back.

Q. Is she coming back?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Is she coming back? Is that a question?

Q. What do you think?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think she's coming back. I don't know. I haven't spoken to her, but I guess the sentiment is that she's coming back. Where and how, singles, doubles, we don't know, and if I'm in her position, I would hide it too.

Yeah, everybody is excited, and it's definitely something that's very highly anticipated. So, you know, let's see.

Q. Do you think Wimbledon would be a good date?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I pick that one as well as her comeback, but yeah, I don't know. I think she might maybe play a doubles tournament or two with Venus. That would be nice to see, just from my point of view and tennis fans, for sure.

Yeah, and she's one of the greatest athletes, really. It would be great to have her back too.

Q. When you first got into this sport, you had visions of maybe, No. 1, winning Wimbledon. You have gone on to rewrite the record books, but you're still pushing on. Wonder if you would talk about it. Seems like you're playing for something bigger than all of that, to still prove yourself. Can you talk about that a little bit?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, obviously they're different. I mean, I have talked about this the last couple of years obviously as I have received many more frequent questions about, you know, how long do I want to play for, what do I play for, et cetera.

Of course, you know, there are objectives and goals that are always there. You want to win, so you want to get another title and get another slam, hopefully. I was close in Australia. Obviously that was an amazing start of the year for me, considering that I haven't been able to reach the finals since the Wimbledon 2024, and, you know, lost to either Sinner or Alcaraz all of the slams last year.

So it was just incredible feeling to be able to beat Sinner in five sets in one of the epic matches that I played in recent times in Australia, and then have another great match with Carlos, who was just too good in the end.

But, you know, for me that has been a phenomenal result. So, you know, I have proven to myself primarily and to others that I can still compete at the highest level and beat these guys.

So my logic is why not keep going as long as I have that fire and flair and quality and also motivation to do that. Schedule is unclear, as it was in the last kind of couple years. You know, it kind of revolves mostly around slams, but I kind of pick and choose where I want to play, where I feel like it's not just from a tennis standpoint but also emotionally, you know, brand-wise, or whatever it is, you know, that inspires me to come.

And I have my reasons, you know, Indian Wells, as I mentioned, has been always a location that I was really happy to come back to in a tournament that I really love playing.

I haven't had great results and performances in the last 10 years, but in the first 10 years of my career, this was one of the best tournaments.

Yeah, that's all. I mean, I really enjoy the thrill of competition. I enjoy still getting out there in front of the fans and really being competitive. Still No. 3 of the world, so I don't think it's too bad, you know, in terms of the ranking and results and performances.

So still competitive. I still have that edge, and I'll keep on going as long as I feel like it.

Q. Obviously a great performance in Australia. How are you feeling physically coming into this tournament?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I mean, as good as you can feel, but it's kind of management on a daily basis, really. I think my base that was developed and built in the preseason is very good, as good as it has been in the last maybe three, four years.

But obviously season is long, and, you know, you try to adapt as you go along, and there is always something surfacing that you have to address and deal with. Thankfully nothing major that, you know, would keep me away from competing in this tournament. In contrary, actually. I feel good. You know, I feel good. As I said, there is always something that you have to deal with and manage, but generally been good.

Q. I have a question about Learner Tien. You played him a year ago, last year at US Open. I know you're a student of the game, and you probably keep an eye on some young players. Have you monitored his progress? What do you think of his game?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think he's a very talented player. I played him in US Open last year. Obviously I think it was the first time maybe night session for him, so maybe he wasn't playing as good as he can play or that he has played in some matches that he has won against Medvedev, for example, last couple of years in Australia that we have seen, or Miami, for that matter, last year.

He has had some great performances, and he's still very young. You know, I think him, Fonseca, these guys, Mensik, that's the generation. I don't know if they're the same age or maybe someone is year younger, year older, but I think Fonseca got a lot of spotlight, which is nice for him, but I think the other guys deserve that too because of the results and everything that have been showing, you know, in the last couple of years, particularly in the last 12 months.

So Tien has Michael Chang in his corner, who is obviously one of the all-time greats and Grand Slam winner and someone that has been on top of the game and understands. Also, I think he's the youngest-ever Grand Slam winner on the men's side, 16 or 17 when he won Roland Garros, so he understands the pressures that come into play when you're so young and you reach that height and have that platform, that you still haven't maybe matured in your game or emotions or everything that goes around that.

So I'm sure that he gives him great counsel and guidance. So it seems like he's putting a good team around himself, and he's obviously from America and has the great support of the USTA and the whole thing that goes with it.

He has all of the preconditions or precursors of becoming a really good tennis player. So it's really up to him now, and time will tell.

Q. I saw today that you launched new sort of recovery sleeves for your arm and knee, and I feel like your longevity of your career has been attributed to the way you recover and your ability to sort of recover the best way.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Right.

Q. Why did you go ahead with launching something like this, and what does it actually do?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, Incrediwear already existed, it's just that we launched a line, my personal line, today. So it's a very unique technology, actually. It's not like the other wearables that you have around and you have seen around.

This is, if I can narrow it down to a simple explanation, it's like an infrared wearable. They have nanotechnology, and it's doing great wonders, speeding up the anti-inflammatory processes and recovery in the cells, the muscles, obviously everything that inflames during the physical activity and for us athletes particularly, but not only athletes. It's super important.

And I'm just proud of that partnership, and as you mentioned, you know, it kind of is right down the alley that I'm the most comfortable with in terms of my passion, in terms of how I want to develop my brand and my businesses, you know, my investments, wellness, longevity.

Health space is something I deeply care about, something that is also very authentic and close to me as I live it on a daily basis and try to be kind of a testament or an example of the products or the businesses or brands that I'm part of or partnering or setting up or launching.

I think nowadays with so many products and companies and brands out there, it's not easy to navigate what's good and what's authentic and original and what's made or created or developed with high integrity.

So I feel like one of the best ways is to have an ambassador or partner or whoever that is a face that really embodies that. I try to do that. Not just because of the businesses but because I have done that throughout my entire career, and that's actually, that kind of philosophy is the very reason why I'm still competing at this high level and being able to compete at the highest possible tennis professional level.