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Djokovic refreshed and raring to go after injury lay-off

ESPN staff
October 31, 2011
Novak Djokovic has been out for six weeks with a back injury © Getty Images
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Novak Djokovic admits his injury could not have come at a better time as he returns to action in Switzerland this week.

The world No. 1 has been sidelined for six weeks with a back injury, and he will look to sign off a remarkable year with a strong finish to the season, first at the Swiss Indoors in Basel before the Paris Masters, and finally the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

With 64 wins from 67 matches this season, Djokovic has been almost unbeatable in 2011, but although he insists he is not invincible, the Serb admits confidence has played a big part in his success.

"I don't feel unbeatable and I don't think anybody is," Djokovic said. "It's just a matter of the right momentum, the confidence that you have, that you're building up by winning this many matches. I could rely on that confidence in most of the matches I was playing because when you are confident, sometimes you see the ball as a watermelon. You feel so good on the court, you trust every shot."

With the likes of four-time champion Roger Federer and world No. 3 Andy Murray in the field in Basel, Djokovic faces a tough test if he is to add another trophy to his collection, and the world No. 1 is looking to return to peak fitness to end the season on a high.

"Injuries are never welcome, but it came in the right moment because it gave me a little bit more time to rest and recover," Djokovic said. "Every single day for the past five weeks I've been doing therapies and keeping up with the recovery programme.

"I tore my muscle quite bad and it took me up to now to recover and get fit. I know it's going to take time and I don't expect myself to be 100 per cent at this tournament, but I will try to build up my confidence."

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