Djokovic looking to jump-start season
Serb confident ahead of campaign opener at Indian Wells.
The last time Djokovic made it into March without reaching an ATP final was in 2006. PHOTO: AFP
INDIAN WELLS:
A stuttering start to 2014 does not have world number two Novak Djokovic pushing the panic button just yet.
The Serbian star admits his failure to win a fourth straight Australian Open crown in January gave his early 2014 campaign a different flavor.
But the world's second-ranked player insisted Friday that he has the tools to turn things around.
"It's a different feel, definitely," said Djokovic, who will launch his campaign at the Indian Wells ATP Masters this weekend against Romanian Victor Hanescu.
"I won the Australian Open title for three consecutive years, and that has significantly affected the confidence level at the start of the season and all the tournaments that were following up. This year it's not the case.
"But, again, I have still a lot of confidence because, you know, I'm playing well. I'm feeling good about myself. When you work hard and when you trust your instincts and you have that self-belief on the court, the results will come."
The last time Djokovic made it into March without reaching an ATP final was in 2006.
Djokovic has played just two tournaments this season, falling to Stanislas Wawrinka in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and Roger Federer in the semi-finals at Dubai.
Both losses were matters of a few key points, said Djokovic.
From those, he said, "I recognized things that I need to work on, not just game-wise, but also mentally the way that I approach certain moments in the match."
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2014.
A stuttering start to 2014 does not have world number two Novak Djokovic pushing the panic button just yet.
The Serbian star admits his failure to win a fourth straight Australian Open crown in January gave his early 2014 campaign a different flavor.
But the world's second-ranked player insisted Friday that he has the tools to turn things around.
"It's a different feel, definitely," said Djokovic, who will launch his campaign at the Indian Wells ATP Masters this weekend against Romanian Victor Hanescu.
"I won the Australian Open title for three consecutive years, and that has significantly affected the confidence level at the start of the season and all the tournaments that were following up. This year it's not the case.
"But, again, I have still a lot of confidence because, you know, I'm playing well. I'm feeling good about myself. When you work hard and when you trust your instincts and you have that self-belief on the court, the results will come."
The last time Djokovic made it into March without reaching an ATP final was in 2006.
Djokovic has played just two tournaments this season, falling to Stanislas Wawrinka in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and Roger Federer in the semi-finals at Dubai.
Both losses were matters of a few key points, said Djokovic.
From those, he said, "I recognized things that I need to work on, not just game-wise, but also mentally the way that I approach certain moments in the match."
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2014.