Djokovic wants top spot back

Novak Djokovic has arrived in London for the ATP World Tour Finals with his love for tennis as strong as ever and highly motivated to regain his place at the top of the game.
The idea of Djokovic being usurped as world number one before the end of 2016 seemed ludicrous when he won his first French Open in June to hold all four Grand Slam titles.
His lead over Andy Murray was more than 8,000 points, one of the biggest ever, but the Scot has won seven tournaments since then and Djokovic only one.
The swing was complete in Paris last week when defeat for Djokovic in the quarter-finals against Marin Cilic coupled with Murray reaching the final elevated the latter to top spot.
Murray’s reign might only last a couple of weeks, with Djokovic able to claim back the number one ranking simply by doing better at London’s O2 Arena next week.
He has won the tournament for the last four years but will surely need to elevate his game a good few levels to make that five.
Djokovic has been a shadow of the player that has dominated the sport for much of the last five years and has admitted to feelings of burnout as well as an unspecified personal problem.
But he bristled at the suggestion he has not been himself, saying: “I am my normal self every day. I was talking about having certain ups and downs that every person has. Not myself emotionally and physically the last couple of months is too rough of a statement.
“I think I have had a good couple of months. It hasn’t been maybe quite up to the standard of results I’ve had the last 12-15 months, but in sport you can’t always expect to win.
“The high standard of results and success probably has taken its toll a little bit. I didn’t get to recover as fast after the French Open.
“I had to dig deep, take some time to reflect on everything because it was an incredible achievement. It took a little bit of time to get back on track.
“But overall it was a very good year that I am proud of and I am here in London to try to crown this year with the best possible result.”
Asked if he still felt the same about the sport he first played professionally 13 years ago, Djokovic said: “It’s the very same thing.
“Of course you do have days when you’re feeling less determined but as long as the days when you’re waking up and it feels more positive are there, they’re the majority of the days, then things are going well.
“That’s the case with me. Even after playing 10 plus years of professional tennis, I still feel I have a lot of gas in my tank and I feel like I still have a lot more years ahead of me. I still feel great joy when I play.
“Practice days make 80 per cent of our season, that is where you really need to get that drive going. I don’t have a problem finding motivation or sources of inspiration, I have plenty of them, and it starts from within.
“My mindset is very positive towards this sport and the life that I have. In addition I have great support from my family and my wife and it is important. As long as it is like that then I will be around.”
Questions have also been raised about Djokovic’s team after neither of his coaches, Boris Becker and Marian Vajda, were with him in Paris.
Instead, Djokovic had in his corner former Spanish professional Pepe Imaz, who takes a spiritual approach to coaching.
But Becker is back with Djokovic in London and the pair are attempting to plot a triumphant end to a rollercoaster season.
“We are both very excited about the last tournament of the year, trying to get as far as we can and finish off this season in the best possible style,” said Djokovic, who plays Dominic Thiem in his opening match on Sunday.
“I’ve had an amazing last four years at the O2 Arena and I’m just hoping I can carry on with the great results I’ve had.”