'... at times when I see the aftermath of things, I do tend to ask myself if I should just sit back and enjoy my benefits instead of paying attention to other people's struggles.'
Driven by having started out in life with "literally nothing", Novak Djokovic is determined to end up as the man with the most Grand Slam singles titles when he finally hangs up his racket. Djokovic said his hunger for success came from growing up in a time of conflict and privation.
'The personal satisfaction is big because under the circumstances that we played this Roland Garros, even if I played an amazing match this afternoon, the conditions are a little bit not the conditions that I will choose, never, to play an event like this'
It is a U-turn from Novak Djokovic after his June statements that competing at the 2020 US Open would be 'impossible' due to 'extreme' COVID-19 protocols for the tournament at Flushing Meadows.
Tournaments continue to be played in front of a handful of fans at most.
The split means Djokovic is now left with his part-time coach and former world number eight Radek Stepanek.
Novak Djokovic will begin his Australian Open title defence against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, while reigning women's champion Sofia Kenin meets wild card Maddison Inglis, following the draw for the year's first Grand Slam on Friday.
IMAGES from the Australian Open Men's semi-finals played on Friday.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 2022 French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Monday.
D Gukesh admires the way charismatic former India skipper MS Dhoni and iconic tennis player Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic sharpened his grasscourt game ahead of next week's Wimbledon by beating Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-4 on Friday to reach the Aegon International final on another rain-disrupted day at Eastbourne.
Novak Djokovic believes he is the best player in the modern era
Novak Djokovic tried his hand at cricket as he bowled and batted against Australia's star cricketer Steve Smith.
Rafael Nadal will be aiming to win a record-extending 13th French Open when the re-scheduled claycourt event starts at the end of September.
Tennis pundits have often suggested that Djokovic gets infuriated as well as galvanised by overwhelming support for Federer and Nadal when he locks horns with them
Novak Djokovic has sealed the year-end men's world number one tennis ranking for the sixth time to go level with childhood hero Pete Sampras after closest rival Rafael Nadal opted against playing in the ATP Tour event in Sofia next week.
Novak Djokovic still feels inspired by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the men's world number one tennis player has said, adding that the rivalry between the so-called 'Big Three' is a great promotion for the sport.
The big-serving seventh seed, who has flown somewhat under the radar throughout the Championships, will meet the winner of the second semi-final between Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Canadia's Denis Shapovalov in Sunday's final.
Djokovic helped Serbia to a 3-0 victory over Japan in their Group A opener on Wednesday at La Caja Magica where a revamped Davis Cup climax is being contested by 18 nations over seven days.
Images from Day 13 of the French Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris.
'It ranks right at the top. Under the circumstances, playing against Nadal, such an important match, it's amazing," the 31-year-old told reporters after needing barely two hours to extend his perfect record in seven Australian Open finals'
Novak Djokovic is aware of Kei Nishikori's battling qualities having lost twice to the Japanese in 17 career meetings.
Rafael Nadal made a triumphant return to Roland Garros on Sunday
Images from Day 3 of the Wimbledon tennis championships played in London, on Wednesday.
Novak Djokovic decided to travel to New York for the US Open amid the COVID-19 pandemic because the 17-time Grand Slam champion did not want to pass up on the opportunity to close in on Roger Federer's record tally of 20.
'Honestly, I think he can overtake them, but I wouldn't like to say that for sure. The race is on'
Roger Federer lit up the O2 Arena with a dazzling 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Novak Djokovic to hand the Serb an early ATP Finals exit and wreck his bid to end the year ranked number one on Thursday.
Djokovic struggled with both his serve and backhand during a 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-1 win over Argentine Juan Ignacio Londero and later said his left shoulder had been bothering him for weeks with the pain getting worse during the match.
World number one Novak Djokovic was sensationally disqualified in the US Open fourth round on Sunday after striking a line judge with a ball following a point during the first set of his match against Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta.
The Serb was knocked off top spot by Rafael Nadal on Monday despite winning the Paris Masters last week and will need a strong finish alongside the River Thames to snatch it back.
Novak Djokovic used a dizzying array of drop shots to make short work of Karen Khachanov at the Dubai Open on Thursday, reaching the semi-finals with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win over the Russian seventh seed.
Andy Murray begins his late-season assault on Novak Djokovic's world number one ranking at the China Open this week hoping to take a chunk out of the 4,695-point gap separating them.
The last time the Swiss maestro was this far down in the ATP rankings was all the way back on January 2001, when Federer was just 19 years old. Notably, he was yet to win his first tour title.
'He can say what he wants, I don't have a problem with it. Does he show me the same amount of respect that most other players do? No, he doesn't, but that's the way he communicates these days'
Novak Djokovic reached the Paris Masters final for the sixth time
Alcaraz's triumph on the Parisian red dirt was the third Grand Slam trophy of his young career and followed the Spanish world number three's breakthrough title at the 2022 U.S. Open and epic Wimbledon victory 12 months ago.
Novak Djokovic said on Monday that he might consider skipping the Tokyo Olympics if the two-week sporting festival takes place without spectators.
World number one Novak Djokovic says he is excited by the prospect of playing at the US Open but says it would only be fair if every player eligible is able to compete. The Unites States Tennis Association (USTA) announced this week that the US Open would go ahead at the end of August without fans and with strict health protocols in place.
Sunday's four-set verdict over Roger Federer was the 28-year-old's 200th singles victory in a major tournament, making him only the sixth player to achieve the feat.
Jannik Sinner's stupendous year may have been clouded by an anti-doping controversy but on the court he is finishing the season like an express train and has won 25 of his last 26 matches.
