• Paris Masters

Son more important than No.1 ranking, says Djokovic

Novak Djokovic will kick off his Paris Masters campaign against Philipp Kohlschreiber on Tuesday © Getty Images

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Novak Djokovic says he is unconcerned about his world No.1 ranking because nothing can match becoming a father for the first time.

Djokovic will return to action at the Paris Masters on Tuesday for the first time since wife Jelena Ristic gave birth to his first child, a boy named Stefan.

Philipp Kohlschreiber will be Djokovic's first opponent since losing to Roger Federer in the final of last month's Shanghai Masters, but the Serbian says he is feeling relaxed about his return to competition.

"I feel like I'm already number one becoming a father last week," he said.

The Paris tournament will be Djokovic's first indoor event of the season as the world's leading players build up to the season-ending World Tour Finals at London's O2 Arena in November.

Federer, who claimed his sixth Swiss Indoors title on Sunday, is just 490 points behind Djokovic in the ATP world rankings, with the winner in Paris earning 1,000 points.

"I never thought that he's not a competition for number one of the world," Djokovic said. "I always thought that he's one of the best players in the world, and he keeps on proving everybody that he deserves to be there.

"I have lots of respect for what he does. I don't think that age is an issue for him. As a matter of fact, I think he's playing some of his best tennis this year.

"For me, it's important to participate in my child's life as much as I can, in his development, in his growing up, in his childhood.

"You know, I hope that it's going to affect positively on my career. In terms of my approach to the tennis, nothing is really changing. I'm still out here, still fighting, competing, and then trying to be number one of the world, trying to win tournaments."

Andy Murray, who is now ranked eighth in the world, opens his Paris campaign against the winner of Julien Benneteau and Yen-Hsun Lu on Wednesday, as he bids to cement his place in London.

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