Djoker has eyes on Oz Open

often been talked about as the leader of the next generation but despite having three Masters titles under his belt in his short career, he has a poor record at the Grand Slams.

Djokovic slipped to an unaccustomed low of 22nd in the world earlier this year but has lost just three matches since the beginning of Wimbledon as he charged back up the rankings.

“Sascha (Zverev) definitely played much better than he did in the group stage,” he said. “He deserved to win. He’s still quite young but he’s had an amazing career so far and I wish him all the best for his future.

“Speaking of young, hopefully many more Djokovic added. being I’ll play years,” — AFP London, Nov. 19: Novak Djokovic set his sights on the Australian Open after a painful defeat in the ATP Finals at the hands of Alexander Zverev took some of the gloss off an incredible season.

A sanguine Djokovic was eager to put the defeat into context after a memorable second half of the season, during which he has clambered back to the top of the men’s game from the lowly ranking of 22 he found himself in as recently as June.

“Obviously no one likes to lose a tennis match,” he said. “You try your best. But at the same time you put things in a larger perspective, see differently.”

“When you get out of this feeling of a little bit disappointment that you lost, I mean, all the positive things that I have to reflect on and also take from this season, especially the last things a bit six months.”

The 31-year-old started his year with a miserable early exit at the Australian Open, followed by elbow surgery and a string of disappointing results on his return to the court.

But since Wimbledon started he has suffered just three defeats — including against Zverev — winning a fourth title at the All England club and following up by securing a third US Open crown to leave him on 14 Grand Slams.

“Having a Grand Slam so early in the season makes us train probably very hard and be kind of aware that we have to be at our best in the first week of the year,” he said.

“The first Slam is there in January. I’ve had most success in my life, in my career, in Australia out of all four Slams. Hopefully I can keep that going,” Djokovic added. — AFP

● “Obviously no one likes to lose a tennis match. You try your best. But at the same time, as I said on the court, you put things in a larger perspective, see things a bit differently.”

● “The first Slam is there in January. I’ve had most success in my life, in my career, in Australia out of all four Slams. Hopefully I can keep that going,” Djokovic said.