Novak Djokovic ‘proud’ of taking Roger Federer’s number two ranking
Novak Djokovic has revealed he is ‘proud’ of taking Roger Federer’s world number two ranking, following his Shanghai Masters semi-final win over Alexander Zverev, the Daily Express report.
The 31-year-old, who has suffered with a niggling elbow injury over the past 12 months, brushed aside the young German 6-2, 6-1, making it 17 wins in a row in the process.
Federer on the other hand, who has won 20 Grand Slams during his illustrious career, suffered a shock loss in the second semi-final, losing to Borna Coric 6-4 6-4.
The results in Shanghai mean that the Serb will overtake the Swiss star when the world rankings are released on Monday and is edging closer to world number one Rafael Nadal.
Talking after the win over Zverev, Djokovic, a 14-time Grand Slam champion, admitted he was proud to reach the top two, and has set his sights firmly on becoming the world number one again.
I am proud to be the new number two in the world but what I want is to be number one at the end of the year.
Months of competition have been based on recovering from an injury and I have not played at my best level.
I have gone from one extreme to the other.
We will have to fight in the next tournaments, but to finish the year at the top of world tennis after the ordeal I’ve lived would be something extraordinary.