Time for tennis, says new dad Novak Djokovic

Paris: There is kiddie-time and then there is tennis-time and Novak Djokovic believes the two don`t mix.

Just 11 days after his wife Jelena gave birth to the couple`s first child, a boy they have named Stefan, Djokovic is back at his day job and on the cusp of winning a 20th ATP Masters Series title.

The world number one says he is cherishing every moment of fatherhood, but had no hesitation in leaving wife and son behind to defend his title in Paris and then go on to London where he is also the title-holder at the World Tour Finals.

Asked after crushing Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-3 in the Paris Masters semi-finals if he had found his mind wandering back home from time to time, Djokovic was adamant.

"No. No. I have been playing tennis so many years and played so many matches that, you know, you`re getting into that zone when you are on the court where you don`t think about anything else but the match," he said.

"I`m glad it`s so. My wife understands it, as well, and she supports this kind of approach. When I`m on the court it`s all professional. It`s all business.

"But of course before and after the match, I try to be involved, you know, in the life as a parent as much as I can."

Djokovic will contest Sunday`s final in Paris against Canada`s Milos Raonic who defeated Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in the other semi-final.