Top ranking spot no immediate lure for Djokovic

Published January 08, 2015

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic climbed to a career-high second in the world rankings last month but the Serb is reluctant to dream about usurping Roger Federer at the top.

Djokovic prefers instead to reflect on the consistency he has produced at the highest level over the last three years and is prepared to bide his time.

"I try not to think about that (the top ranking) too much," Djokovic told reporters on Thursday while preparing for the Indian Wells ATP tournament, an event he won in 2008, two months after his Australian Open triumph.

"I have been very successful in the last three years playing equally good year after year with those guys. Federer and (Rafa) Nadal have been very dominant in the last five years and you have to give them credit for that.

"Especially Roger who has had some life changes in the last year-and-a-half. He became a father and husband and he's still managing to play on this high level. We're all trying to compete well and work hard, be patient and wait for chances."

"There are more players now who are able to win major events and that is what attracts the crowd and gets the media to be a little bit more involved in other players as well," the 22-year-old said. "It's great.

"(Juan Martin) Del Potro showed it last year at the U.S. Open and you also have (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga, (Andy) Murray, (Nikolay) Davydenko -- all these guys in extraordinarily good shape at this moment."

Djokovic earned the label 'Ironman' on last year's ATP Tour after playing in 97 matches, more than anyone else.

Although his marathon schedule took a physical toll, he had no plans to cut back on events this season.

"I don't think my schedule can be much different from what it was last year," he said. "But definitely I can prioritize more important events, grand slams and (Masters) 1000 events, and try to set up in good shape for those events.

"I kind of go with the philosophy that the more matches you play, that means that you are successful and the more successful you are. If I have as many matches as last year, it's great."

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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