He says it, he hammers it at every press conference.
“
I have always said that the history of our sport is a huge source of motivation for me.
Every day, the goal is to prove, to beat all the records.
So, yes, I really want to continue.
Turin will host the Masters Tournament for the first time on Sunday, bringing together the eight best players in the world, with a new opportunity for Novak Djokovic to make his mark in the history of his sport.
If he wins a sixth Masters title - he is currently stuck at five alongside Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras - the insatiable will join a certain Roger Federer, record holder for ATP Finals titles.
To read also Djokovic, the obsession with the records of Mister always more
Assured to finish for the seventh time in a year as world number 1, a record there too, the Serbian does not land in Italy in conquered grounds.
He has not won in this event since 2015. An eternity for a champion of his caliber.
In 2016, he gave in in the final against Andy Murray.
Not qualified the following year, he failed again on the last step in 2018, this time beaten by Alexander Zverev.
In 2019, he had not crossed the hens and last season, Dominic Thiem got the better of him in the last four.
“I have often reached this stage of the season being a little physically tired.
You don't have enough gasoline in the tank to be able to play 100% in every match.
"
Novak Djokovic
The Serbian has his explanation for this “dearth”:
“The ATP Finals are a tournament that comes at the end of the season. It's an event that has been successful for me for a long time, I won it four times in a row (from 2012 to 2015), but since 2015, I haven't managed to do it. I have often reached this stage of the season being a little physically tired. You don't have enough gasoline in the tank to be able to play 100% in every match.
"
At the top of world tennis (for 345 weeks, an absolute record there too), “
Nole
”, placed in the “
green group
” will begin his new quest on Monday 2 pm against the Norwegian beginner Casper Ruud.
The Serbian will then cross swords with Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Andrey Rublev.
Should the Russian and world number one win their respective groups, the two could face each other in the final - their fourth in 2021 - with the Serbian leading 2-1.
Read alsoNovak Djokovic, the record hunter strikes again
Two months after his dream of a Grand Slam shattered at the US Open by Medvedev, Djokovic had taken his revenge on the Russian, last Sunday in a very beautiful final 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Forgotten the disappointments of the summer (4th place in Tokyo Olympic Games and the final of the US Open lost), the champion of 34 years has rebounded in Paris with a sixth win in Bercy: "
I do not spend my days I mope because I did not do the Grand Slam this year, ensures Djokovic.
I turned the page, and I did what I came for: to secure the world number one place at the end of the year and win the trophy.
"
To read also Tennis: Ruud, Hurkacz, the games are wide open at the Masters
To read also In Bercy, Djokovic has again gleaned records and hearts