Djokovic says late-season ATP calendar ‘big challenge’ for players

Johannesburg: Tennis ace Novak Djokovic has called for a rethink of the late-season ATP calendar, saying that it is tough for a player to hold up physically during such a gruelling schedule with him being no exception.

The Serb, who will finish the season as world No 1 for the second year running as he prepares to play in the Paris Masters this week, said he is trying to conserve his strength for the final competitive sprint even in a season shortened by a fortnight. “It is a big challenge,” a daily quoted Djokovic, as saying. “Obviously I`m sure all the participants in London will agree that this (ending the pre-London preparation week) is definitely not something that goes in the favour of us preparing for the most important event in the end of the year,” he added. Djokovic indicated that he feels wiped out after a long season during which he and his team have tried to conserve strength for the run-in. "This is the schedule. It is the way it is. We have to adjust we have to accept it. Unfortunately, there is no other options at this moment,” Djokovic said. “But we will discuss this matter after we finish this season. Maybe we can try to find some other way. This season is shorter by two weeks. Now we have a two weeks longer off-season. Maybe that was the sacrifice we had to make,” he added. “There are still some options on the table about this (pre-London) week. Maybe we can move it around so we can make it more adjustable for the top players,” he said. Djokovic added: “Physically I feel good now, but I`m not the freshest guy on the Tour because I have had a long year. But I want to try to hold on these two weeks and perform my best, and then go to holidays.” ANI