Paris: World number one tennis player, aspires to become a coach once he retires because he does not want to take his knowledge “to the grave,” Novak Djokovic quoted saying it to the Serbian media after winning the Paris Masters on Sunday.
Djokovic won his 37th Masters title and sixth in Paris with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory against Russia’s world number two Daniil Medvedev, who earned his first grand slam championship when he defeated Djokovic in the U.S. Open final in September.
Djokovic, who certainly ended the season as the world number one for a record seventh time, praised Medvedev and expressed confidence that the 25-year-old Russian will someday surpass him as the world’s top-ranked player.
“He is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world at the moment and if he stays healthy he will win many more grand slam tournaments,” said the 34-year old from Belgrade.
“I’d have hardly any work to do if I was to coach him. He is probably my biggest rival at the moment and he is very close to becoming the world number one. He is the leader of a new generation and his game has no weaknesses,” he added.
Djokovic has 20 grand slams, one more than his colleagues Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and he has stated that he is keen to develop young talent after he puts up his racket.
“I try to pass on to new generations everything that I’ve learned. Knowledge can be a curse if you don’t use it.
“What am I supposed to do when I retire – take it to my grave so that those who come after me are unable to benefit from my philosophy, work methods and approach?
“For me, it’s only logical that the next step should be to pass my knowledge on to others. I see myself in various roles in the future and I am glad that I can also develop as a coach,” he said.
Djokovic will compete in the season-ending Masters in Turin on November 14-21 before taking Serbia to the Davis Cup finals on November 25-December 5, when the 2010 champion will seek a second crown in the competition.
However, Djokovic’s ambition to win a record-extending 10th Australian Open championship and 21st major trophy in January remains in doubt, as he has frequently refused to disclose his vaccination status against Covid-19.
