“Going to Be Motivated”: Former British No.1 Optimistic About Novak Djokovic Winning ATP Finals 2020

Greg Rusedski has backed World No.1 Novak Djokovic to make a determined effort to reach another career landmark at the ATP Tour Finals.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion is just a title-run away from equaling Roger Federer for the highest number of trophies won at London’s O2 Arena. The holder of 20 Slam titles, Federer also has 6 Tour Finals trophies to his name.

Novak Djokovic is eyeing his sixth Tour Finals title this year

However, the Swiss, currently in rehabilitation post-surgery, will not defend his title this year. The Serb won four titles at O2 Arena between 2012 and 2015 but hasn’t lifted the coveted trophy since.

However, the former British tennis star has backed Djokovic to end his trophy drought at the Tour Finals this year.

Speaking to PA news agency, Rusedski said, “I think Novak Djokovic is going to want to re-establish and tie the record of six with Federer. I think he is going to be motivated because he hasn’t won it in a long time,” Rusedski said.

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“Federer, Djokovic and (Rafael) Nadal want to go down with the most Slams, the most ATP Finals wins, the most Masters wins. That is what drives these three incredible legends of the game,”  Rusedski added.

Novak Djokovic equaled Pete Sampras’ six year-end number ones

Djokovic recently tied stalwart Pete Sampras’ feat of finishing the season as World No.1 on 6 occasions. “I think he’s fresh now. His main goal was to get to No.1 – he did that,” Rusedski, who used to be Britain’s No.1 in his heydays, said.

Novak Djokovic had a mid-season dip in form

After winning the Australian Open, Djokovic suffered a mid-season dip in form. He lost in the quarter-final of Erste Bank Open in Vienna. Thereafter, the Serb skipped the Rolex Paris Masters.

Acknowledging Djokovic’s inconsistent run this year, Rusedski said, “He had that little dip in Vienna and didn’t play in Paris.”

Lauding the Serb for equaling Sampras’ record, Rusedski said, “To get six year-end number ones is a phenomenal accomplishment, only Pete Sampras has done that.”

However, the Briton put Sampras’ feat ahead of the Serb’s as the former finished No.1 in six consecutive years. “Pete’s accomplishment is still ahead of Novak’s because Pete did it six years in a row,” said the Briton, who had one of the biggest serves in the game. 

Indifferent form apart, Djokovic also had a brush with infamy this season. He was disqualified from the US Open for accidentally striking a line judge with a tennis ball.

The incident took place during his fourth-round tie against Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta. Here’s to hoping he enjoys a successful outing this time around.