“I have other priorities,” Novak Djokovic not going overboard ahead of breaking Steffi Graf’s record
Novak Djokovic says that he focuses on winning tournaments rather than going over the board for breaking records.
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Novak Djokovic and Steffi Graf
On the verge of beating one of the most significant records in tennis, the most weeks as World No.1 player held by Steffi Graf, Novak Djokovic says that he is not going overboard thinking about it. He was talking at the press conference ahead of the Dubai Open. Djokovic is yet to lose a tennis match in 2023 and his controversial hamstring injury that occurred during the Australian Open has fully healed now.
The Serbian said in the press conference, “Well, I could not have imagined it at that point, to be honest. I was dreaming as a kid to be Wimbledon champion, to be No. 1 in the world. I achieved those dreams 2011. After that, of course, I wanted more. I still want more achievements. Of course, I’m driven by the goals. I’m as dedicated to the sport really as anybody else. I obviously know that it’s not handed to me, that I have to earn it.“
The 22 times Grand Slam champion continued on how surreal it is for him to beat Steffi Graf’s record, “Of course, it’s surreal in a way to be that many weeks world No. 1, to match Steffi Graf, that is one of the all-time greats of our sport, both men and women. Just being amongst these legendary names is flattering. Of course, I’m very proud of it.”
Novak Djokovic is looking for his sixth Dubai Open title
The Serbian World No.1 Novak Djokovic is playing at a different level since the start of 2023. His record run in the Australian Open was a clear portrait of how great he is, still at the age of 35. The way the Serbian looks after his physical fitness is something to admire. His endurance level was unbelievable during the first Major since he won there with a controversial hamstring injury. Now the fully recovered Serbian will look to win his sixth Dubai Open title.
Even after breaking many records and spending years on tour, the Serbian said in the press conference ahead of the Dubai Open that he wants to win everywhere he competes. As he said, “But at the same time wherever I play, I don’t want to take away the importance of the tournament, whether that be in here in Dubai, 250 event we’re playing in Banja Luka in a few months’ time. Everywhere I go, I want to win.
“Every trophy I get to win maybe values three, four times as much as some trophies that I won some years ago, 10 years ago, because I know that it’s different.I don’t know how much time I have left in a way, how many more years I’m going to play. I try to really get the most out of the present moment in every tournament that I play.”
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Vipul Payattuparambil
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