Aiming for No. 1, Djokovic claims first Masters Series clay crown

Novak stops doing imitations because of negative connotations

FROM THE ITALIAN OPEN IN ROME – With Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer knocked out early in this tournament, all eyes were on Novak Djokovic to win the presti gious Masters Series event of Rome. In his 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 comeback win over Stanislas Wawrinka in the final, Djokovic proved again that he plays his best tennis in pressure situations, even though he says it’s not easy.

“I knew that he's a difficult player to play against on this surface, because if you look at his history of the results, he made his best results on this surface,” Djokovic said about his opponent. “So he's a specialist, and he didn't have anything to lose. But I tried to stay focused all the time, because the role of the favorite in these kind of big matches is not easy to cope with.”

Djokovic lacked any initiative at the start of the match, seemingly wanting to see what Wawrinka could come up with. The No. 24 Swiss was playing excellent attacking tennis in the opening set, and his backhand was especially lethal. Djokovic was challenged to control the heavy balls coming off his opponent’s one-hander, and it wasn’t until he dropped the first set that the Serb started to take more of the offensive himself, attacking the net and playing more on top of the baseline.

Wawrinka became more erratic as the match progressed and, after Djokovic won the second set and broke his opponent in the first game of the third set, the No. 3 cruised to victory. “In the end, I did what I needed to do,” the Serb said. “Even though I won in three sets, I think I'm happy in general with my performance in this tournament.”

Wawrinka said he felt Djokovic’ change of tactics was what changed the match. “I was starting very well. The first set I was playing very well. I was always before him; I was pushing him. But I think it change his game and he was coming more in at the net. In the second and the third set he was serving very well, too.”

The unseeded Swiss will now take a massive leap in the rankings, moving up from his current career high No. 24 to No. 10. “Yeah, of course I'm a little surprised, because in one week playing the final in Masters Series, and to be 24 and then Top 10 after the week is a big jump for me,” Wawrinka said. It's the first time that two Swiss have been in the Top 10.

DJOKOVIC ‘ACCIDENTLY’ SPEAKS OF GETTING TO NO. 1

Djokovic now moves within 310 points of No. 2 Nadal in the rankings. He has a quarterfinal to defend in Hamburg next week, whereas Nadal was last year’s finalist in the German seaport.

“I was aiming for Rome and for Roland Garros as my two priorities in this clay-court season,” Djokovic said. “But, of course, Hamburg is next week, so I'll try to do the best that I can there. Try to recover in these two or three days.”

Djokovic went on to say that his win in Rome gives him even more confidence to do well at future major tournaments and that his current season has been a dream so far. “But I want to co ntinue. I want to finish the year as the No. 1.” After a second or two, he quickly smiled, and added “in the [2008 ATP Race].”

Of course, if he does finish No. 1 in the race at year’s end, it’s more than likely that he’ll grab the top spot in the rankings, too.

Normally, there’s nothing wrong with stating one’s ambitions to become the world’s best player, but Djokovic must have been aware that with his constant talk about wanting to become No. 1 someday, and with earlier statements from his parents saying Nole is already better than Federer, he is considered by many fans to be arrogant.

“I've been very satisfied [with my season] so far, and that's what I will try to keep on doing,” Djokovic said. “Being consistent on the major events with the results, that's the important thing if I really want to stay on the top.”

NOLE SAYS NO MORE IMITATIONS

During the prize ceremony, Djokovic was asked if he could perform some of his well-known imitations on court for the Italian fans, but he declined.

“I just don't want to continue doing it, because this is not what I do best,” he said. “What I do best win on the court. That's what I'll try to do in the next 10, 15 years. But imitations, I did it because I'm having fun doing it, and I'm not making fun of anybody. I'm just trying to bring a positive energy and enjoyment and a little laugh, little smiles, and that's it. But I heard that some of the players and people started to talk about my imitations [in] negative terms. That's what I don't l ike, so I'll stop.”