Novak Djokovic insists his goal is to return to No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, but he must first figure out a way to return to peak form.
Talking after his Roland Garros quarter-final loss to Dominic Thiem, the World No. 2 admitted, “I obviously always expect a lot from myself, but it's a fact that I'm not playing close to my best, and I know that. For me, it's a whole new situation that I'm facing, especially in the past seven, eight months. Not winning any tournament, [is something] which hasn't happened in many years.
“It's not something that hasn't happened before for any player. All the top players have been through that. So I guess you've got to go through it, try to learn your lessons and figure out the way, how to get out of it stronger. It’s a big challenge, but I’m up for it.”
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Twelve months ago, the Serbian was the holder of all four Grand Slam championship trophies after becoming the eighth player in tennis history to complete the career Grand Slam with his first Roland Garros title. Now title-less in four majors, he went five tournaments without a Grand Slam crown between the 2013 Roland Garros and 2014 Wimbledon.
On Monday, when the new Emirates ATP Rankings will be published, the 30-year-old Serbian will be outside of the Top 2 for the first time since 4 July 2011, when he first ascended to the top spot. Djokovic has spent a total of 223 weeks at No. 1, but lost the position to Andy Murray on 6 November 2016.
“[Being No. 1] is one of the highest points that you can reach as a tennis player… one of the highest goals of any player. I know how it feels to get to that spot, to be there, and to also lose that spot. I hope that the experience that I have and also the time ahead of me will serve me well and, hopefully, I'll be able to get back.
“For me, it's more about the game itself, my own game [and] working on it, because obviously there are things that need to be better and I need that continuity. I'm going to focus on that, and then I guess results will follow, and the No. 1 Ranking as well. I will have a better chance if I start playing better."
Djokovic will seek to take inspiration for a return to form from his coach, Andre Agassi, who famously rose from No. 141 in November 1997 for a return to No. 1 in July 1999. He will attempt to work with Agassi again at his next schedule tournament, Wimbledon, which begins on 3 July.
“It's hard to pick one thing [that isn't working]," admitted Djokovic. "It's just certain technical stuff. Not to get into details, but obviously more or less all the parts of my game are kind of going up and down. I feel like I'm missing consistency. I play a great match or two in a row, and then I play a completely opposite match. That's what happened today.”
“I'm just figuring it all out and trying to be in the moment. I love this sport. I'm motivated as any other player on the Tour. Even though I have played for many years, I still want to do well. I respect this sport and it's given me so much. The least I can do is give my all whenever I'm holding a racquet in my hand. That's what I have done. But sometimes, you know, circumstances are such that you are not able to perform as well as you want.”
Djokovic is now 24-7 on the season, which includes one ATP World Tour title at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open (d. Murray) in the first week of 2017.
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