French Open key to complete Novak Djokovic’s career grand slam

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  • Novak Djokovic speaks during a press conference in Abu Dhabi on Thursday prior to the start of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.

    Novak Djokovic will do everything in his power to stop Rafael Nadal from capturing a record 10th French Open title, the world No1 said on Thursday.

    – In photos: Mubadala World Tennis Championship Day 1

    Roland Garros is the only grand slam that has eluded Djokovic so far in his career and Nadal is responsible for six of the Serb’s 10 defeats there, including three in the last three years.

    Paris is once again Djokovic’s top priority as he hopes to complete a career grand slam in 2015 and the 27-year-old is looking to stand between Nadal and history this year, where the Spaniard will try to become the first man to ever reach double digits in singles title at one major.

    “I don’t want to talk about how it would, because I’m going to make sure it doesn’t happen,” Djokovic said with a laugh when asked about the prospect of Nadal winning a 10th trophy in Paris.

    "Everything that he has achieved in his life so far is tremendous. He’s still pretty young, he’s 28. I would say still in the pinnacle of his career. His playing ability. His physical ability. He’s a great champion on and off the court. I played against him over 40 times and he’s probably my biggest rival I’ve ever had in my life."

    He insists he isn’t putting pressure on himself by making Roland Garros his ultimate goal each season adding: “I think it’s just the way you observe things in life. I believe setting up a goal is not something that… it can be observed from a perspective where you say ‘okay it’s going to add pressure to me and I feel nervous, I feel stressed about achieving that goal’.

    “I’d rather like to use the more positive source of that energy. More inspirational and motivational goal of winning a grand slam or being No1 in the world. That’s something that keeps me going, it’s something that drives me to keep on practicing, working hard and eventually to get to that stage.

    “You come to the point where of course you feel tension and pressure especially in the slams, but on the other hand, this is the way I’ve been approaching tournaments in my career in general. From the very early stages of my career. I’ve been trying to be confident. Trying to set up a high goal and try to work towards it.

    “It’s helped me for the most part of it. To really stay committed and dedicated to what I do. Because if you don’t have motivation, everything you do seems twice as hard. So if I have something I’m aiming for, I feel all the work I do has purpose. My team around me is great. They’re all busy to help me be as best as I can. And hopefully this season can bring us a lot more positive results.”

    Djokovic is looking to win a fourth consecutive Mubadala World Tennis Championship title in Abu Dhabi this weekend before he heads to Doha, where he will be making his tournament debut, officially kicking off his 2015 season.

    He comes to the Middle East as a father for the first time having welcomed a baby boy, Stefan, with his wife Jelena in October.

    Djokovic spent a quiet New Year’s Eve with his family in the UAE as Stefan ensured they kept things low-key.

    Asked how he feels fatherhood has changed him, Djokovic said: “It has definitely given me a larger dimension and perspective in life. It has deeply fulfilled me like nothing before. Everything I’ve achieved so far in my life, I’ve experienced some very joyful moments, nothing could really compare to becoming a parent. My wife and I are really blessed to have this opportunity to become parents and we’re trying to enjoy every moment of it.

    “Definitely some things change in terms of daily rhythm. Especially when I started now practicing and preparing, it feels like you have more commitment and more things going on.

    “It’s not easy work but I find it as a source of positive energy and pure love. I don’t look at it as a commitment or obligation I have to do. It’s something that comes naturally as a parent.

    “This is what my wife and I have planned and have wished for. I think it’s not going – as it didn’t affect my last two tournaments of the year, where I did very well. So I’m just trying to build on that.

    “It’s going to require a little bit of organisation, and more people traveling, more overweight, but generally it’s a very positive thing that happened.”

    Djokovic begins his Abu Dhabi campaign against Stan Wawrinka on Friday.

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