Novak Djokovic sets himself very high standards but that is how he keeps on improving according to the world No 1.
He says that he is always trying to improve his game, something which has brought his great success.
Djokovic is grateful that he is able to play at a very high level after so many years at the top.
Speaking to the press ahead of the Dubai Tennis Championships, Djokovic explained what motivates him.
“I think in the core of my motivation, it’s just a mentality of wanting always to be better than I was yesterday. So on a daily basis or kind of a short-term goal is to always try to improve every aspect of the game ’cause I always believe that there is something to work on.
“I think keeping that kind of a mindset also drives me and drives my team members to really take every tournament as a new challenge, biggest challenge we have in this moment. I feel like that kind of attitude got me to where I am in terms of achievements in my career.
“Of course, I’m grateful I’m still able to play on a high level at this age. Professionally I have goals. I have ambitions. It’s always the highest kind of goals. I’ve been fortunate to achieve pretty much every achievement that you can have as a professional tennis player. I think that kind of experience allows me to believe that I can always do it again and again.
“I still feel physically very good. Mentally I’m there, I’m present. As I said, I really love the game, I love the competition, I love to be challenged on the court by anybody.
“So there’s still that fire, flame burning.”
Djokovic was thrilled to make it back to the Dubai stop on the tour and get back into action in time to keep hold of the top rankings slot.
“It was always in plan to be here and participate in the Dubai Duty Free Championships. After Australian Open was finished, it was uncertain. I didn’t know whether I was going to be here or not. Probably only five, six days ago we knew that it’s going to be possible for me to play as we were testing the leg on the tennis court.
“Yeah, I had enough time in the gym, so to say, fitness-wise, built a good base. Had a couple of weeks of no tennis. Well, almost three weeks. Last few days it’s really getting as much tennis practice points as possible to get myself back in a competitive shape in order to be able to compete in a high level.
“I haven’t felt any pain whatsoever out on the court for a week now. I’m getting closer to the hundred percent. Still not there in terms of the game itself, how I feel on the court. But the important thing is there is no pain. I don’t have a hindrance to the way I move on the court.
“After every injury, it takes a little bit of time for mechanisms to be balanced, so to say, for adjustments to be done on the court. It takes time for you to find again that groove of moving on the court effortlessly and not thinking about if something’s going to happen or not. I don’t have those thoughts.
“I just have to play more. I guess once you start playing matches, you’ll see how you feel going hundred percent.”
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