Italian Open: Novak Djokovic reveals world No 1 aim as he continues full injury comeback
NOVAK DJOKOVIC insists he is doing his all to work his way back up to the standards he set when he was world No 1.
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The Serbian has endured a noteworthy struggle for form and fitness after coming back from a six-month elbow injury earlier this year.
His health clearly played its part in his Australian Open quarter-final exit to Hyeon Chung and while the 30-year-old is now playing pain-free four months on, his best tennis has still evaded him.
The 12-time Grand Slam champion has twice lost to players outside of the ATP Rankings’ top 100 in recent events and has not yet got past the quarter-finals of any tournament in 2018.
Djokovic can finally reach a semi-final for the first time this season at the Italian Open today where he faces Kei Nishikori, who he defeated in the first round of the Madrid Open last week.
And after dropping down to No 18 in the world following Madrid, Djokovic insists he is as desperate as anyone to regain the kind of performance level that saw him rival Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
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If there’s anyone that likes to see me playing on the level that I played on when I was No 1 in the world, it’s me.
“It’s the process that I have to accept and embrace and try to get the best out of myself in every match that I play,” Djokovic said.
“Not just matches but practice sessions as well which count a lot and make me feel more comfortable playing a match.
“Obviously playing matches and playing practice sets is completely different because of the nerves and the importance of winning a point or a game.
“You have to deal with all of these things. There is no better practice than playing a match which I haven’t had too many of in the last year or so.
“I’m taking it day by day and I know that if there’s anyone that likes to see me playing on the level that I played on when I was No 1 in the world, it’s me.
“I’m working on that. I appreciate the support from people. I put in a lot of work and I guess it takes time and matches for me to get into the flow.
“Hopefully I can be better with a smell percentage each match.”
Djokovic faces Japan’s Nishikori at around 3pm today.