World number one Novak Djokovic says he is not concerned about his ranking as he returns to action after becoming a father for the first time. He plays the Paris Masters this week, the first tournament for him since his wife Jelena Ristic gave birth to son Stefan. "I feel like I'm already number one becoming a father last week," he said.
This will be the first indoor tournament of the season for Djokovic as he prepares for the ATP World Tour Finals in London in November. Roger Federer is just 490 points behind Djokovic in the ATP world rankings, and the winner in Paris will receive 1,000 points.
"I never thought that he's not a competition for number one of the world," said Djokovic. "I always thought that he's one of the best players in the world, and he keeps on proving everybody that he deserves to be there. I have lots of respect for what he does. I don't think that age is an issue for him. As a matter of fact, I think he's playing some of his best tennis this year. For me, it's important to participate in my child's life as much as I can, in his development, in his growing up, in his childhood. You know, I hope that it's going to affect positively on my career. In terms of my approach to the tennis, nothing is really changing. I'm still out here, still fighting, competing, and then trying to be number one of the world, trying to win tournaments."
Despite his long break from tennis, Novak Djokovic is still the favourite to win the Paris Masters. He is 7/4 to win the title at Bet365 while Roger Federer is 11/4 to claim the crown in Paris.
sharpe 9 years ago
All the great tennis players said that number one spot in the ranking is not their main priority but winning tournaments, especially those from the gran slam. Novak Djokovic is not an exception from that rule.He is one of the greatest players ever and such a great character, so I hope that he will be abble to continue to...
All the great tennis players said that number one spot in the ranking is not their main priority but winning tournaments, especially those from the gran slam. Novak Djokovic is not an exception from that rule.He is one of the greatest players ever and such a great character, so I hope that he will be abble to continue to play at highest level and participate in his family life too.
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mico.femic.1 9 years ago
He is a so great sportsmen... Congratulations to the family Djokovic. Little Stefan surely would be tennis player like a father, and one they he will win on Wimbledon :) Djokovic will be the first player and next year, because he is the best on the world.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
After winning the Paris Masters,he is almost safe for the first place at the end of the season.He deffinitely deserves that.He won lot of important tournaments this year.I think he can stay at the first place even in all next year.Only threat could be Rafael Nadal which will have lot of tournaments where he wont need to...
After winning the Paris Masters,he is almost safe for the first place at the end of the season.He deffinitely deserves that.He won lot of important tournaments this year.I think he can stay at the first place even in all next year.Only threat could be Rafael Nadal which will have lot of tournaments where he wont need to retain any ATP points.
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Shumar4life 9 years ago
He is the ultimately the most popular sportsman in Serbia. If he need some break to celebrate born of his son, he should take it. But he is always hungry for wins and tropheys and I believe that he will continue in the same manner, in which one he was until this days. I wish to him lot of luck on the next tournaments.
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Alexa Alexa 9 years ago
Milaneli,ja se slazem sa tobom,to sto je postao otac sigurno ga nece omesti jer ipak je proefisionalac a i nije da samo on mora briniti o tom djetetu,a kako kaze ima punu Jeleninu podrsku da nastavi tim cime se bavi,kako pisu nase novine i ona je nastavila da se bavi svojim svakodnevnim aktivnosti,jer ne zeli da zapusti...
Milaneli,ja se slazem sa tobom,to sto je postao otac sigurno ga nece omesti jer ipak je proefisionalac a i nije da samo on mora briniti o tom djetetu,a kako kaze ima punu Jeleninu podrsku da nastavi tim cime se bavi,kako pisu nase novine i ona je nastavila da se bavi svojim svakodnevnim aktivnosti,jer ne zeli da zapusti njihovu fondacu. Nole is the best and he will be for at least a few years! Buy! :)
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Milaneli 9 years ago
Comeon guys, are you serious? I mean, yes, being a father is a lot of work, but he is professional, you think that birth of a child can let him down? I think it can just boost his will to win more tropyhs. Fedderer got 4 kids, and still playing on super high level. Maybe you dissagre with me but this is my point of view..
Comeon guys, are you serious? I mean, yes, being a father is a lot of work, but he is professional, you think that birth of a child can let him down? I think it can just boost his will to win more tropyhs. Fedderer got 4 kids, and still playing on super high level. Maybe you dissagre with me but this is my point of view..
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
Someone said that he is not one of the best ever,but If he wins Roland Garros and Cincinatti masters,he will become the only man ever to have won every Grand Slam and Masters tournament at least one.That would make him immortal and that is quite possible.
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VlahovicNovo 9 years ago
I think Nole is very big man and sportsman.I am affraid now when he is father he put down in form.I hope so he will win Ozzy open 2015 and very important Roland Garros and Cinncinati masters.This week in Paris i think he will not be winner and in London maybe will.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
It wont change his play,but I suppose his willness to work can decrease.His life is changed a lot by a birth of a son.Sometimes,he will be happy if he gets eliminated in the earlier stages of the tournament,because then he can spend time with his family.
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Milaneli 9 years ago
Well, he scored his first win as father. I think being father wont change his play, since he is really well stable, mentaly. Also, he can play in this level at least 4 or 5 more years if he train hard and find a motivation to work as he worked until now.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
Also he still has a time to win Roland Garros.By wining Roland Garros he would achieve major success.He would win real Grand Slam.Roland Garros is the only major that was never won by Djokovic.He was close this year,but on the other side of the net was Nadal who is best ever on clay courts.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
Yes I still think that Djokovic would be even better if he played in some other time,without Nadal or Federer.Win so much trophies against them is such a success.Good thing for him is the fact that he is only 27 years old he still has few years to win more Grand Slam and masters titles.
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John Andrew 9 years ago
I agree with Daniel about Djokovic's career. Definitely, he is one of the greatest players ever. In last 20 years, he is with Federer, Sampras, Agasi and Nadal, player with the most winning tournaments. Grand slam and masters. Yes, big problem in next tournament could be a concentration, and this is understandably.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
His biggest problem at the tournaments ahead could be concentration.He has become a father few days ago,so it is natural that he does not think about tennis all the time.Still,for me Novak Djokovic is favourite to win titles in Paris and in Shanghai.He only need little dose of luck.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
Vlado.mikic.50 I totally disagree with you.I think Djokovic is already one of the greatest tennis players ever.He has won 7 Grand Slam titles.He has won 46 titles.Tennis he has played in 2011. could be the best season ever played by some player.He is big because he was doing all this things in the era of Nadal and Federer,which...
Vlado.mikic.50 I totally disagree with you.I think Djokovic is already one of the greatest tennis players ever.He has won 7 Grand Slam titles.He has won 46 titles.Tennis he has played in 2011. could be the best season ever played by some player.He is big because he was doing all this things in the era of Nadal and Federer,which are probably the best players ever.
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Franjo ?iDo 9 years ago
Great player, but he is not playing so good lately, but he has a lot reasons to be happy, he got married, he got first child, he is still on first place, everything is looking good for him... I think that he will win in Paris, he will be playing for his son and wife, Nadal is out, Federer is in good form, but he is better...
Great player, but he is not playing so good lately, but he has a lot reasons to be happy, he got married, he got first child, he is still on first place, everything is looking good for him... I think that he will win in Paris, he will be playing for his son and wife, Nadal is out, Federer is in good form, but he is better than him... I think that he will stay on first place..
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
He will have some problems to secure his first place till the end of year.He will have troubles at the two last tournaments of the year.He must won at least one of them,a probably both if he wants to secure first place.He deserves first place much more than Federer,so I hope he will stay on the top.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
It is understandable that he is not concerned.He is a true champion.For true champions the only thing that really matters is the fact that he is wining trophies.It is important to become number one player in the world,but after that is more important to win trophies.
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Milaneli 9 years ago
Well time will tell.. Can't agree with timidi that he had a lot of luck. U can't be number one buy being lucky.. There is interview on youtube about Nole when he was 5 years old. In some show host asked him what is your dream? And he said to be number one in the world. 5 years old kid :)
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vlado.mikic.50 9 years ago
I agree with timidi that Djokovic will never be one of the greatest but i do not agree that he had a lot of luck.All of his career he has achieved with hard work and persistence.He is a great player and a very good man.Congratulations for son Nole.But Federer is the best tennis player of all time.And hardly that anyone...
I agree with timidi that Djokovic will never be one of the greatest but i do not agree that he had a lot of luck.All of his career he has achieved with hard work and persistence.He is a great player and a very good man.Congratulations for son Nole.But Federer is the best tennis player of all time.And hardly that anyone will achieve in tennis what is Federer achieved.
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