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Novak Djokovic celebrates - Source: Reuters -
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Novak Djokovic looked in danger of getting left behind earlier this year after a punishing claycourt season took its toll on his body and mind but the Serbian appears to be back to his best.
First this month he beat world number one Roger Federer in his own backyard to take the Basel title, then last week he thrashed world number two Rafael Nadal on his way to winning the Paris Masters, his fifth title of the year.
Now the 22-year-old former Australian Open champion is setting his sights on defending his ATP World Tour Finals crown in London and next year challenging for the world number one spot.
"I don't think I'm the favourite or number one right now because every single player who is here can win the tournament which makes it even more interesting," said Djokovic, who begins at the O2 Arena on Tuesday against Nikolay Davydenko in Group B which also contains Nadal and Robin Soderling.
Djokovic may not rate himself as the favourite next week but he certainly has a spring in his step despite playing 94 Tour matches this season.
"In the start of the year, even though I had the best claycourt season in my career I had some tough times because I made some major changes, with the racket, I took the responsibility for that and it affected me a bit on the court, and I lost my focus," Djokovic, who took the unusual decision to switch racket manufacturers on the eve of the season said.
"But I feel that I've matured more now and I know what I want to do on the court.
Fitness dedication
"Physically I've dedicated a lot of time to fitness and I've been working hard in the last three or four months and now it's paying off because I really feel I can survive those long five setters and still be fresh.
"I've regained that confidence and I'm able to play the way I've always wanted to play, which is to be aggressive and try to take control of matches."
By most people's standards Djokovic has had a good year, but earlier than expected exits at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon led some to believe his career was beginning to level off after stunning progress in his first years on Tour.
Since losing to Federer in the U.S. Open semis, however, Djokovic has won three out the four tournaments he has entered and reached the semi-finals in the other one.
After reclaiming the world number three spot from Andy Murray he now believes he can start snapping at the heels of Nadal and Federer again, although he is under no illusions how great a challenge it will be to overtake them.
"My lifetime goal is to be number one and that will always be my dream until I make," said Djokovic.
"But I have Roger and Rafa in front of me and these are two guys who have been so consistent, especially in the grand slams. If you have them as your main competitors for that spot then you're in trouble.
"On the positive side, battling against those two gave me a lot of competitive spirit and made me mentally stronger.
"I have beaten them many times and proved my quality by winning a grand slam. But in order to be number one I will have to do even more. I'll have to step up and win some more slams."
