Djokovic no. 1??

[vmosrafa08]

Article from his website. Do you think that its possible? Federer is losing his edge...

Novak Djokovic says he believes he could reach no.1 spot in the ATP Rankings next year.

At the press conference in the Old Palace Novak said he musn't get carried away with such thoughts, and that he should always concentrate on his training, and think only about one match at a time.

"Being number one in the ATP Rankings is always my goal, and I think it's reachable. I have enough quality to get there, but I must be careful not to forget my priorities, in trying to achieve that goal", said Novak.

"I have to concentrate on all those little things that one needs to do to reach the goal. I'm a perfectionist and always want to do better. I have room for improvement, and that's good. I have high ambitions, and I want to continue with good results and games, especially in major tournaments", added number three in the world.

Djokovic is only 10 points behind Roger Federer in the ATP Rankings. World number one Rafael Nadal is almost a thousand and five hundred points in front, but Djokovic has a convincing lead in front of world number four Andy Murray.

"In front of me I have two players that are amongst the best in the history of tennis, and we must not forget Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who had injury problems last season."

The Serbian tennis player won his first Grand Slam title this year in Australia, he was the best at the Masters Series tournaments in Indian Wells and Rome, and he finished the season with the win at the Masters Cup in Shanghai.

"The way I started the season, I believe everyone thought I would finish it as number one in the ATP Rankings, but it didn't happen. The pressure is stronger now. I have to defend a Grand Slam title for the first time in Melbourne, and it will be a new experience for me", said the 21-year-old from Belgrade.

Djokovic wasn't discouraged by failures, at the first place by elimination in the second round of Wimbledon, and later with not the best results in the last six months of the season, except the Masters Cup.

"The early elimination in Wimbledon was hard for me, because that's my favourite Grand Slam tournament. The period after that was also tough, but I guess everyone has to go through that to become stronger. The long preparation period is ahead of me now, and it's crucial for the start of the new season", said Novak.

The world number three will lead the Davis Cup team of Serbia in March next year in Madrid, in the first round of the Davis Cup World Group match against the 2008 champions, Spain.

"I was surprised to see that the Spaniards beat Argentina and won the Davis Cup, without the injured Nadal. They showed they're the great team even without the world number one. But we're a young team, with huge potential, and we will not go there with a white flag. We can stand against anyone".

 

[GameSampras]

Not if he duplicated what he did this past year. Going MIA for quite a bit of the season after the Australian OPen.. He finally picked it up at the end of the year, but he needs to be far more consistent if he stands a chance of becoming #1. Of course Nadal may have a big letdown. We dont know how Nadal is going to fare. He hasnt one a tournament yet since becoming #1

 

[wyutani]

yes, after 2010.

 

[NamRanger]

He's got way too many points to defend, and too many tough opponents. Only at Wimbledon and I think Miami does he have a legitimate shot of picking up points.

 

[wyutani]

He's got way too many points to defend, and too many tough opponents. Only at Wimbledon and I think Miami does he have a legitimate shot of picking up points.

thats why i say 2010.

 

[LanceStern]

I think he does have the talent and determination to take #1, but it's going to be a MIGHTY tough challenge wrenching it from Nadal and Federer.

Plus Murray has been a ridculous threat these days. That's always something to watch.

Hoping Djokovic picks up his game next season.

 

[NamRanger]

thats why i say 2010.

As we saw at Wimbledon, he's fully capable of getting beat early in the Slams if he plays a tough opponent. Catching him here is kind of tricky, but when it happens, it happens!

 

[wyutani]

As we saw at Wimbledon, he's fully capable of getting beat early in the Slams if he plays a tough opponent. Catching him here is kind of tricky, but when it happens, it happens!

yeah! at 2010

 

[Ossric]

yeah! at 2010

When was that? I didn't quite catch it the first few times....

Back to your bridge now.

 

[Raiha]

yeah! at 2010

that's because he'll have to compete with players like kohschebeler, right? lol

 

[wilfreb]

i think the #1 spot wil be owned by Djokovic, Murray or Simon next year.

 

[wyutani]

that's because he'll have to compete with players like kohschebeler, right? lol

who is kohc\screiber?

 

[Clay lover]

kohlschreiber

 

[luckyboy1300]

i think the #1 spot wil be owned by Djokovic, Murray or Simon next year.

next year? they're still not that mentally strong and consistent to become worthy no. 1s.

 

[PimpMyGame]

I think it's good for the game if three or four guys have the belief they can make it/retain/make it back to the number 1 spot. It's been a while since we've had that situation and we all know that "true" competition can only be good for the sport.

 

[welcome2petrkordaland]

2009 is a real question mark. there is a great deal of parity at the moment, esp. on the most common surface, which is hard court. djokovic finished strong in 2008 but it's hard to make the argument that he'll finish #1 at the end of '09, considering:

1) nadal has once again (for the moment) gained the upper hand on djokovic, even on non-clay surfaces (on clay, forget about it)

2) federer will be hell bent on bouncing back next year, not to mention federer beat him down in ny on his best surface (as well as in monte carlo when fed told his parents to be quiet-doesn't help that fed doesn't like him)

3) murray, who underperformed the first few times he and djokovic played, has 2 in a row on novak, both on djokovic's best surface and both on big stages. btw, if anyone does, IMHO murray will be making a serious move in rankings this year.

4) current parity in men's game, esp. on hard-federer, murray, simon, nalby, nadal, roddick, davydenko, del potro, tsonga, can all threaten novak.

2009 year end rankings:

1) nadal

2) djokovic
(neck in neck betw. 2 & 3)
3) murray

4) federer

5) simon

6) tsonga/del potro/ nalby

7)tsonga/del potro/ nalby

8) tsonga/del potro/nalby

but who really knows?

 

[jackson vile]

Yes he can, but he can't pull the BS that he did at the USO.

Really though he should not focus ont he #1 spot, that is a losing strategy IMO

 

[andrew_fernando2]

as good of a chance at year end number one as federer and nadal.

i think he will beat nadal on clay this year.

he seems to get it right the second time (ie - first/second master series final and first/second slam final)

 

[edmondsm]

If Djokovic defends the AO title then I think he has a chance. We don't know how the health of Nadal and the form of Federer will hold up. If they falter Djokovic could easily be #1.

 

[Telepatic]

2009- #2
2010- #1

 

[wyutani]

2009- #2
2010- #1

i just said that.

 

[oneleggedcardinal]

i just said that.

I agree with Ossric. You're not being very clear on which year you think this will happen. Do you want to maybe try to repeat it a fifth time?

 

[wyutani]

sorry very dry topic...im saving this thread or else it would have just disappeared after one post.

 

[autumn_leaf]

i think the #1 spot wil be owned by Djokovic, Murray or Simon next year.

djok and murray i can see, when did simon enter this picture?? my bet is on murray b4 djok though.

 

[vmosrafa08]

I'm saying no. 2 by next yr. Murray could definitely be a threat.
Djokovic is a great player, but he needs to be consistent.

 

[vmosrafa08]

djok and murray i can see, when did simon enter this picture?? my bet is on murray b4 djok though.

Yeah, why Simon?

 

[random1]

"The way I started the season, I believe everyone thought I would finish it as number one in the ATP Rankings, but it didn't happen. The pressure is stronger now. I have to defend a Grand Slam title for the first time in Melbourne, and it will be a new experience for me", said the 21-year-old from Belgrade.

Wow, quite a statement! I can't think of anybody who thought Djokovic was going to wind up #1 for the year....

 

[TheTruth]

It's hard to say what will happen, but it's good to see Djokovic have the belief.

 

[swedechris]

no . not in 09 and not in 10.. murray and fed and tsonga will be tough for him on fast courts and during the hard court season too.. on clay nadal rules everyone. i think nole wont be no.1 . ever.

 

[vtmike]

"The way I started the season, I believe everyone thought I would finish it as number one in the ATP Rankings, but it didn't happen. The pressure is stronger now. I have to defend a Grand Slam title for the first time in Melbourne, and it will be a new experience for me", said the 21-year-old from Belgrade.

It's hard to say what will happen, but it's good to see Djokovic have the belief.

You are so biased! If such a statement was made by Fed, you wouldve been bitc*ing and accusing Fed of being arrogant

 

[edmondsm]

Djokovic is capable of beating Federer and Nadal h2h. But I don't know if Djokovic is capable of winning as many matches in a season as those two.

Nadal and Federer still have a stranglehold on the top two spots as far as I can tell. Djokovic is close to Federer, but he has a mammoth amount of points to defend in the coming months.

 

[GeoffB]

Here's another angle - what odds would you take on a player holding the #1 ranking at the end of the year? For me, I'd be willing go with:

(in other words, I'd need a payout of 2x my bet if I picked Fed to finish #1 at the end of the year)...

Nadal: 1-1
Federer: 2-1
Djokovic: 3-1
Murray: 5-1

Everyone else seems too unlikely, so I'd just group that under "long odds".

I figure that most people would take my bets on Federer these days. I suspect most don't have as much confidence that he can make a comeback.

 

[TheTruth]

You are so biased! If such a statement was made by Fed, you wouldve been bitc*ing and accusing Fed of being arrogant

Where specifically does Djokovic call any player out, or explain why he can beat them? or how he is gaining on them? Everything Djokovic said relates to him and his own strengths without offending anyone else.

There is a difference in saying I believe I can a contender and this:


"It’s been in some ways a breakthrough year for me," Federer said. "Especially the way I played in the beginning of the year, not losing a set during the Australian Open, coming here, beating everybody in straight sets after losing against González when people thought, you know, O.K., Federer is maybe not playing so well."

With that came his own quick tally: "Beating Nadal for the first time on clay. I’ve beaten all my closest rivals, Nadal and Djokovic, more times than they’ve beaten me. It’s been one of those years which I’m really, really happy about."

Asked what he would advise an opponent if he were coaching him to play against him, Federer laughed: "Don’t even try, pal. No, it’s going to be really, really difficult, you know. You’re probably not going to win, but you can always try."

========================

Of his own career, Federer said: "I’m happy about it, you know, putting all the Grand Slam titles together, all the Masters series together, like the awards I’ve received, you know. Because people might think I don’t care about, you know, awards and titles anymore. It’s so not true."

========================

We see things differently.

 

[luckyboy1300]

Where specifically does Djokovic call any player out, or explain why he can beat them? or how he is gaining on them? Everything Djokovic said relates to him and his own strengths without offending anyone else.

There is a difference in saying I believe I can a contender and this:


"It’s been in some ways a breakthrough year for me," Federer said. "Especially the way I played in the beginning of the year, not losing a set during the Australian Open, coming here, beating everybody in straight sets after losing against González when people thought, you know, O.K., Federer is maybe not playing so well."

With that came his own quick tally: "Beating Nadal for the first time on clay. I’ve beaten all my closest rivals, Nadal and Djokovic, more times than they’ve beaten me. It’s been one of those years which I’m really, really happy about."

Asked what he would advise an opponent if he were coaching him to play against him, Federer laughed: "Don’t even try, pal. No, it’s going to be really, really difficult, you know. You’re probably not going to win, but you can always try."

========================

Of his own career, Federer said: "I’m happy about it, you know, putting all the Grand Slam titles together, all the Masters series together, like the awards I’ve received, you know. Because people might think I don’t care about, you know, awards and titles anymore. It’s so not true."

========================

We see things differently.

the 2006 french open fiasco. you saw that right? on youtube? or you're going to tell me djoker is only boosting his confidence?

 

[TheTruth]

the 2006 french open fiasco. you saw that right? on youtube? or you're going to tell me djoker is only boosting his confidence?

I haven't had time to see it yet. I'm working on it, but he didn't say anything offensive. He talked in this article about himself and his own goals. He didn't put anyone else on front street.

 

[luckyboy1300]

I haven't had time to see it yet. I'm working on it, but he didn't say anything offensive. He talked in this article about himself and his own goals. He didn't put anyone else on front street.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SdfhhYJsJ8 here is that again. please have time to watch. it's only 3 minutes after all. he basically said "i was in control of the match" after being down 2 sets to love.

 

[zagor]

Wow, quite a statement! I can't think of anybody who thought Djokovic was going to wind up #1 for the year....

Well it's easy to say that now when the season's over and we can look it from a different perspective but back in the first half of the year when Djokovic won AO with dropping only one set beating Fed in straights in semis,won Indian Wells beating Nadal convincingly in semis there,then winning Rome,then that match in Hamburg against Nadal when he had a chance to rise to #2 spot etc. things were quite different.

I'm sure a lot of people thought Djokovic had a shot at number one at that time and nobody thought he would bounce out of Wimbledon in the second round after reaching the final in Queens and giving Nadal a tough match there.IMO things went south for Djokovic when he realized that his shot at getting the number one spot this year was gone after the early Wimbledon loss to Safin and after watching that Wimbledon final and realizing that Fed and Nadal are still one level above him,for a guy who really thrives on confidence like Djokovic things like that are surely going to take effect on his game.

 

[zagor]

You are so biased! If such a statement was made by Fed, you wouldve been bitc*ing and accusing Fed of being arrogant

True but most of us are biased one way or another,it's just that some respect the sport and what each player brings to the table and some don't.

"It’s been in some ways a breakthrough year for me," Federer said. "Especially the way I played in the beginning of the year, not losing a set during the Australian Open, coming here, beating everybody in straight sets after losing against González when people thought, you know, O.K., Federer is maybe not playing so well."

With that came his own quick tally: "Beating Nadal for the first time on clay. I’ve beaten all my closest rivals, Nadal and Djokovic, more times than they’ve beaten me. It’s been one of those years which I’m really, really happy about."

All the things Fed said here are actually facts:

-He didn't lose a set at AO.

-Many people thought Fed wasn't in best form and was vulnerable at TMC after he lost to Gonzo.

-He did great to string wins against Kolja,Roddick,Nadal and Ferrer(was in excellent form in that tourney,not losing a match until the final and beating Nadal there)all in straights after that tough loss to Gonzo in TMC.

-He did beat Nadal for the first time on clay(which I'm sure he was very happy about).

-He did beat Nadal and Djokovic(his closest rivals that year)more times than they beat him in 2007.

-Fed saying that's he's really happy for the year he had is very understandable,everyone would be(3 slams+TMC is about as good year as it gets).

Asked what he would advise an opponent if he were coaching him to play against him, Federer laughed: "Don’t even try, pal. No, it’s going to be really, really difficult, you know. You’re probably not going to win, but you can always try."

You didn't write the whole answer to the question.Here it is:

ROGER FEDERER: Don't even try, pal (smiling). No, it's going to be really, really difficult, you know. You're probably not going to win, but you can always try.
I'm just kidding.
I don't know. I'm not a coach - just yet. I'm still a player, so I won't answer

I guess you missed the "smiling" and "I'm just kidding" part? For the record I watched videp of that interview at that time and Fed was clearly joking and laughing,anyone could conclude that he wasn't being serious at all.He also finished with saying that he's not the coach(yet) implying that he's not the best person to ask about that.

Of his own career, Federer said: "I’m happy about it, you know, putting all the Grand Slam titles together, all the Masters series together, like the awards I’ve received, you know. Because people might think I don’t care about, you know, awards and titles anymore. It’s so not true."
.

Nothing wrong with saying that he's happy and proud of his achivements(slams,masters,awards etc.),everyone would be and he would be a complete liar to say anything else considering how amazing they are.

 

[lambielspins]

Djokovic is more likely to be overtaken by Murray as the #3 than move up.

 

[DJG]

Djokovic is more likely to be overtaken by Murray as the #3 than move up.

I think between the top 4, it will be a battle of note in 2009. I cannot pick the top contender.

 

[Gen]

Djokovic already promised us that he would be world number one at the beginning of this year. He also was quite sure that his only opponent was Federer. Never even mentioned Nadal as a rival. No he does not see Murray. It would be an interesting development if Murray overtakes Djok on his way to numero uno.