No Djok-ing

World number three insists efforts will pay dividends

By Rachel Griffiths   Last updated: 17th November 2009  

No Djok-ing

Djokovic: No signs of fatigue

I don't want to waste any tournaments, I want to perform my best in every match I play

Novak Djokovic
Quotes of the week

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Novak Djokovic is convinced his hard labour will pay off in the long term after reaching the final stages of an epic season which has seen him play nearly 100 matches.

The 22-year-old Serb heads into the season-ending showpiece in London as the favourite despite already playing 94 Tour matches in 2009, the most by any player on the ATP Tour this season.

The in-form world number three won five of the 21 tournaments he competed in this year, with his main rivals for the world top spot Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray playing just 14, 16 and 17 respectively.

Djokovic might have been forgiven for taking an early exit from the recent Paris Masters in the style of Federer and Murray with the esteemed ATP World Tour Finals over a week away, but the near-exhausted Serb pushed himself to the limit, particularly in his quarter-final victory over Robin Soderling and his final triumph over Gael Monfils.

100 percent

The Serb, who will end the season at the London tour finals, insists he never considered giving anything less than 100 percent in any of his competitions.

"I don't want to waste any tournaments," he said.

"I want to perform my best in every match I play. Some critics could say that it's wrong for the Masters Cup in London. But still, I think it's good because who knows what's going to happen in one week. You live for today.

"Now I'm going to London with confidence and the only question is if I'm able to physically rest and get energy for that event.

"Some players might think differently and of course I respect that. Everybody has his own way of professionalism."

Djokovic's commitment to fitness and hard work are fairly recent revelations in his game after crashing on to the scene in 2005 with third-round runs at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Critics who deemed the Serb as talented but both physically and mentally flawed were shocked when Djokovic reached the US Open final in 2007 and went on to win the Australian Open only months later.

However, despite ending his second consecutive year as world number three and triumphing in the Masters Cup in Shanghai, Djokovic turned his attention to improving his fitness and preparation in the hope of competing with the likes of Federer and Nadal.

Development

Physical and psychological development teamed with copious playing has seen Djokovic reaping the fruits of his labour.

"I think in a way my mental strength was trained throughout playing in so many important matches in the big tournaments against big players," he said.

"I've had many experiences and when you have so many situations you start learning from these experiences."

Djokovic has won five out of the 10 finals he played and this season and only once missed out on making it to the quarter-finals with a third round defeat at the French Open.

The Serb has notched up a 76-18 match record, including 51-10 on hard courts, which beats any other player this year.

If Djokovic is able to defend his title in London he will end the year with 99 matches under his belt, which he hopes will launch him into next year with a chance to reach the world number one spot.

"I really have big plans for next year," he added.

"I will just try to physically get ready and mentally as well."