Masters Cup - Djokovic targets Nadal spot

Eurosport - Sun, 16 Nov 21:16:00 2008

Novak Djokovic aims to fulfil his lifetime goal of becoming world number one next year after winning the season-ending Masters Cup.

TENNIS Novak Djokovic Copa Masters Shanghai - 0

The 21-year-old Serbian started the year with his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and ended it with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Russian Nikolay Davydenko to close within 10 ranking points of world number two Roger Federer.

"Certainly I believe that I have the quality to reach the top spot in the upcoming year or next couple of years, (maybe) 10 years," he said.

"That is my lifetime goal that I've been always trying to achieve. But I have learned a lesson. If I pay too much attention to rankings, it doesn't go the right way."

While conceding that Rafael Nadal deserved to finish the season as the top player, Djokovic was pleased to see new younger players challenge the Spaniard and Swiss Federer.

"Now it's not only about the two players any more," he said. "It's about five, six, seven players who are playing really well and can win against each other.

"I think it's good for the sport to see some new faces playing the final stages of the major events."

Djokovic was particularly pleased with his victory on Sunday because he had lost his last three finals - at Queen's, the Cincinnati Masters and in Bangkok - and not won a title since the Rome Masters in May.

"I didn't manage to win a couple of finals, but I've done it now," said the Serbian, who also won the Masters Series event in Indian Wells in March.

"I ended up the season the way I started it, with a win in a big event. So it's a great boost for the upcoming season."

Serbian tennis has had a good year with Jelena Jankovic the number one woman and Nenad Zimonjic teaming up with Belgrade-born Canadian Daniel Nestor on Sunday to win the Masters Cup and take the number one spot in doubles.

"I think Serbia's getting used to number one so I'll have to work on that, I guess," joked Djokovic. "Probably the fact that we didn't have the best possible conditions gave us more motivation to succeed."

Reuters

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  1. its not just about being world number 1 peeps, com`on, lets talk wisely and with lots of reasoning here, lets face it, there are bound to be down falls, but all these noise about nadal being the best, he is good, novak is good, i mean they all deserve to be number one but one person stands out and u have to choose who is really and has really been doing it.

    nadal had a great year, right, but can he or any of the up coming archive what roger did, absolutely not, there is a lot of competition and hey while it did last, roger was great. he is great. even if he becomes number 3, 4 i dont care, i love him, his got style, tennis is his life.

    dont u all just talk like all he has archived, was gifted.

    u got to give it to him, he is good, and it will be hard to get near what he has done and its ok for any other person to dream, and aspire to be world`s number one, but he has to earn it, really work for it.

    From juliet m, on Thu 8 Jan 1:22PM

  2. Eurosport`s voting pool from main page:
    Who is the player of the year?
    1 Scott (Britt)
    1 Spaniot
    1 French
    3 Serbs
    1 Russian
    1 American

    So happy to belong to the best tennis nation in 2008… if there is no Novak, There is JJ, if she is “absent”, Ana is back…real Round Robin :-)
    Oh Yes and Zimonjic , uups !

    From Igor K, on Tue 18 Nov 9:46PM

  3. The fact is- 2008 might have been the beginning of the end for the Swiss master. His decline began last year when he start to lose his first or second match on tournament from unseeded players like Canas (twice in a row), Volandri...
    Someone said that Nadal are obsessed to beat Federer. What a stupidity! Federer's worst nightmare is Nadal on clay!!! And for sure, Federer will not win Roland Garros. Never!
    Like him or not, the fact is- Federer is one of the best ever! That fact can not changed by anything.
    But, at this moment he is not the best in the world. His dominion is over. He must to accept that, he no need excuses like lethargy, Infectious mononucleosis, stomach virus...
    I do not understand the need to insult some great players because you don't like them. You must be frustrated, or full of hate, or incredible stupid, or what! Are you boring?

    I have a question for the Serbs: Why react to provocation of them? Serbia have great players, young players of the future and only blind can not see that!

    From Big Mouth, on Mon 17 Nov 4:56PM

  4. you gb are degenerate nation!!!

    From bockica86, on Mon 17 Nov 1:04PM

  5. Even in his worse possible state, he still won a slam, but people still doubt. By the way he beat Murray and Djokovic en-route. He's 27, and has 13 slams, yet McEnroe has gone on record saying that Fed won't match Sampras record. Fact is, since coloured television Roger Federer is best player to ever pick up a tennis racket. So like Wilander said he may be no. 1 or no. 2 or no. 3, he's still the best. Better than Sampras, Borg, McEnroe, Nadal (by the way Djokovic and Murray don't count its just talk, otherwise Kafelnikov, Safin and Rafter should also be classed as legends). What we should be debating is whether Federer will ever acheive the standards of the great man himself Laver. To do that he needs to win Roland Garros and at least 18 slams. Considering 2008 was a bad year, Federer needs only one more good year, and 18 slams is acheivable. As for the clay, well Nadal has chased Federer all his life and has acheived the number one spot at a cost of fraility and fatigue. Does anyone want to bet on Nadal winning the next four RG's consecutively? Put your money where your mouth is.

    From aeronick2000, on Mon 17 Nov 12:47PM

  6. her we start again the stupid , arrogant , clowny player win coople of match and say he will be no 1 !!!
    wake up idiot frpm ur dreams great rafa will come next year and kick ur @#$% !!

    From hmb222000, on Mon 17 Nov 12:05PM

  7. bigmouth: you really have a big mouth and you should try to keep it shut, better for you.

    From ya, on Mon 17 Nov 11:14AM

  8. falore b
    Federer is out, you WILL see!

    Some of you forget that Novak is only 21 years. Hi is No3 from 9.Jul 07. Pure luck, ha!?

    From Big Mouth, on Mon 17 Nov 6:00AM

  9. comment 18: dont ever again say Federer is out..... he had a bad year dats all and he's gonna come back and win it all next year... u shall see

    From bigben, on Sun 16 Nov 10:32PM

  10. Djokovic, Zimonjic, Nestor - all of them born in Belgrade!

    From sv.porfirije, on Sun 16 Nov 8:53PM

  11. Don`t be so obset what Novak said, he did`n say :"I`m the best now" - he just said his longterm plan is to be the first one day ? Is it so bad ?
    He has the quality and great tallent, and one day he will have neded experiance, and the why not then?

    From Igor K, on Sun 16 Nov 8:43PM

  12. nole is the best f*** all the rest.hehhehhee.......nadal is ok ......but.....nole is better!!!!!!!!1

    From sweetlittle, on Sun 16 Nov 8:00PM

  13. Nadal is the best of the world.

    From zeljkagavrilovic, on Sun 16 Nov 7:36PM

  14. Maybe Novak can not be No1 next year, but depends on Nadal, not Federer! Federer is OUT!

    From Big Mouth, on Sun 16 Nov 7:36PM

  15. I don't think Djoky will be number 1 next year. Depends on Federer more than anything else. When Federer will reach his 30s, then he has a chance. He will have to deal with ascending Murray as well. Nadal is due for decline next year because of this burn-out year. I am almost certain he will lose his number 1 ranking after Australian open.

    From therealchegevara, on Sun 16 Nov 7:19PM

  16. wynotmeme,

    Roland Garros final Nadal-Federer 6-1 6-3 6-0 AMAZING, AWESOME NADAL!
    semifinal Nadal-Djokovic 6-4 6-2 7-6 AMAZING, AWESOME MATCH!
    Nadal is No1, no doubt he deserved to finish the season as the top player, but Novak deserved No2!!!
    Congratulations, Novak!!! I wish you all the best in the future.

    From Big Mouth, on Sun 16 Nov 7:05PM

  17. wynotmeme,

    Roland Garros final Nadal-Federer 6-1 6-3 6-0 AMAZING, AWESOME NADAL!
    semifinal Nadal-Djokovic 6-4 6-2 7-6 AMAZING, AWESOME MATCH!
    Nadal is No1, no doubt he deserved to finish the season as the top player, but Novak deserved No2!!!
    Congratulations, Novak!!! I wish you all the best in the future.

    From Big Mouth, on Sun 16 Nov 7:05PM

  18. For Nolilasoy - Federer is only 10 points away now.. I guess that is not so far, isnt it?? And Nadal is not going to last with his style of play... He allready starts to feel it on his body. Its impossible to play that way for a long time! Trust me, you'll see

    From duci_king, on Sun 16 Nov 6:20PM

  19. in the meantime,yes,you and Murray look to be able to reach the first 2 spots,but to beat Nadal on grass or/and clay,you gotta reach another level,to reach every major's final for 4 years in a row and win most for that long,you gotta play great all the time,and look cool doing it.you can play great though,it's obvious.Can you go that distance ? reach that standard ? prove it first,but then,people are fickle,they'll cheer the next new guy soon enough so stop speaking and start playing please,and have fun doing it,stop going pfff and why am i so stupid looks,it's boring and insulting.Though bravo to you when you clap some opponent's great play sometimes.

    From coolworld, on Sun 16 Nov 6:20PM

  20. well,number 1 he wants and thinks he can do it,oh great,not about Federer and Nadal anymore ? oh wonderful,as a tennis fan,it's not about just who is top,it's how they or he plays,i don't find your game particularly attractive,always behind the line and a point after 40 groudstrokes because the other player,or you,just missed the line or in the net,and then we see you raging after yourself and hitting the racket on the ground,or looking tired. But a Nadal Federer final,oh my,so many finals with them we had,i tought that was the best tennis ever to watch,it's reached the end but to watch again that level of play,we may have to wait 20 years.

    From coolworld, on Sun 16 Nov 6:12PM
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