PARIS, Nov 4, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Novak Djokovic says he is ready for the “big
task” of trying to win the ATP Tour Finals in London and claim the year-end
world number one spot for a record-equalling sixth time.
The 16-time Grand Slam champion sealed his fifth Paris Masters title on
Sunday with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Canadian Denis Shapovalov, but will be
usurped by the injured Rafael Nadal at the top of the rankings on Monday.
Nadal said he will fight until it is “impossible” to be fit for the start
of the season-ending championships on November 10.
If the Spaniard does not play or fails to win a round-robin match at the
Finals, Djokovic must claim two group-stage victories and make the final to
pass him.
Djokovic would also be sure of the year-end top ranking should he win the
tournament and Nadal does not reach the semis.
“There’s always a chance that I win all my matches in London, that I play
well. I have done it in the past, and I like playing there,” said the 32-
year-old, who has won five ATP Finals titles.
“But it’s (an) extremely difficult task considering who my opponents are
going to be.
“You’re playing (a) top-10 player every single match. So that’s a big task
on my end that I have to focus on.
“And as a consequence, of course, if I manage to get the year-end number
one, that would be fantastic.”
Djokovic is bidding to equal Pete Sampras’ record of finishing six years as
the world’s best player, while Nadal is looking to achieve the feat for the
fifth time.
“It is a motivation and a goal every day,” said Djokovic. “It is a goal
that I have as a professional tennis player to win as many Grand Slams as
possible and also to be number one worldwide for as long as possible.”
The 33-year-old Nadal could have ended the race for top spot by winning the
Paris title, but he withdrew before his semi-final against Shapovalov with an
abdominal muscle strain.
– Djokovic not slowing down –
Djokovic has enjoyed yet another fantastic season, winning the Australian
Open and Wimbledon among his five titles.
That looked a long way off when his comeback from a long-standing elbow
injury suffered a setback last year with a shock French Open quarter-final
defeat by Italian Marco Cecchinato.
But he has since added four major titles, having also claimed the 2018
Wimbledon and US Open crowns.
Djokovic — who is closing in on Nadal, who has 19, and Federer, with 20,
on the all-time list of Grand Slam titles — says he is hoping to play on for
as many years as possible.
“I would like to play tennis for a long time. I don’t know how long that is
going to be, but I wish to really play pretty long.
“So hopefully you’ll be seeing me around for many more years.”
Djokovic’s victory on Sunday delivered his 34th Masters title and his 77th
on the ATP Tour in total.