"Some say it's arrogant when I talk openly about it but I don't think so" - Novak Djokovic expresses desire to ''make more history''
Novak Djokovic admitted that his appetite for pursuing milestones has not diminished with age, while also adding that he did not consider it arrogant to openly express a desire to "make more history."
Djokovic, who equaled Steffi Graf's record after completing a whopping 377 weeks as the top-ranked player in the world, was speaking at a press conference in Belgrade ahead of the Dubai Open.
The Serb reckoned that it was "normal" to be focussed on breaking records at the professional level despite some claiming that it displayed arrogance.
🎾🎾 377 🎾🎾 #Djokovic https://t.co/ohS8y7GD7N
"From a professional point of view, I have a desire to make more historic results. Some say it's arrogant when I talk openly about it, but I don't think so, I think it's normal," he stated while speaking to journalists at the Novak Tennis Center.
He refused to divulge how long he would continue to play the sport. The 35-year-old stated unequivocally that the hunger to win was still present while also pointing out that he enjoys playing tennis recreationally as well.
"There is no such number, ha-ha. I don't have a number until what age I will play professional tennis. Automatically, after the age of 30, people in sports ask these questions, especially in tennis. The hunger is still present, I would characterize it more as a passion for sports and a great desire to compete. I like to play tennis with my son, recreationally, I have no aversion to sports because it takes up such a large part of my life," he explained.
Novak Djokovic has declared that he will be playing at the Dubai Open, thus ending speculation with regard to his participation in light of a hamstring injury that he sustained in Adelaide earlier this year.
"I am approaching 100 percent intensity" - Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic, who won his 22nd Grand Slam title last month, revealed that the injury that bothered him throughout the Melbourne Major had "been repaired."
The Serb said he was "approaching 100 percent intensity" ahead of the Dubai Open, although he had not reached that level yet.
#Djokovic will play Dubai: I have made a decision to go to Dubai, I travel tomorrow. I am close to 100% intensity, the injury is good.
"The injury has been repaired, I am approaching 100 percent intensity. I'm not at that level yet, but it's encouraging. As a team, we made the decision to go to Dubai. Ambitions are always the highest," the 22-time Grand Slam champion disclosed.
A loss to Jiri Vesely ended Novak Djokovic's Dubai Open campaign at the quarterfinal stage last year. The Belgrade-born player is certain to retain his position at the top of the world rankings for at least another week irrespective of how World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz fares at the ongoing Rio Open.