Novak Djokovic has history in his sights as the world No1 aims to cap the greatest year of his life by winning a fourth successive ATP Tour Finals title.
Even by Djokovic’s already sky-high standards, 2015 has been a golden period for the 10-time grand slam winner, who has cemented his position as the sport’s preeminent force with one of the best single-seasons in the Open era.
– VIDEO: Djokovic, Murray & Nadal look ahead to ATP Finals
With 78 wins from his 83 matches over the last 11 months, the 28-year-old Serb has amassed 10 titles including the Australian and US Opens, Wimbledon and a record six Masters 1000 tournaments.
Since losing to Roger Federer in the Cincinnati final in August, Djokovic has embarked on a 22-match winning run that has brought him the US Open, the China Open and Masters titles in Shanghai and Paris.
Djokovic, who opens his Tour Finals challenge against Japan’s Kei Nishikori on Sunday, would become the first player to win the event four years in a row if he lifts the trophy on November 22 and, ominously for his rivals, he claims he feels in the form of his life.
“I feel this season is even better than 2011. I’m in love with the game. I really don’t find it that difficult to go out on the practice courts and prepare myself in the off-season,” Djokovic said.
With a fearsome record of 37 successive indoor match wins, few would bet against Djokovic, even with an early showdown against Federer looming in the group stage.
World No3 Federer, who starts his 14th straight Tour Finals campaign against Tomas Berdych on Sunday, has a record six Tour Finals titles and has reached the final four times in the last five years.
The 17-time major champion, defeated by Djokovic in the Wimbledon and the US Open finals, expects to mount another strong challenge for the title.
“I’ve never had issues getting motivated for this event at the end of the season,” Federer said.
“It’s a massive priority for me and because it’s a priority it helps me play better. The idea of playing fellow top 10 players gets me really excited.”
In light of recent shocking revelations regarding alleged “state-sponsored” doping by Russian athletes, Federer has warned tennis chiefs they must bring in tougher measures to weed out drug cheats.
“The player needs to feel that there are going to be tests often to shy them away from the stupid thoughts they might be having,” Federer said.
“I think they (the sport’s chiefs) try their best but I think we could always do more. We have a very clear thing of what we should be doing – more testing,” he said. “Where the points become greater, the money becomes greater and we need to be tested. It is very simple. That’s how you scare off people."