• World Tour Finals

Djokovic: Daddy duties give me new strength

Novak Djokovic says fatherhood has already given him new inspiration as he bids to add the "cream on the cake" to a memorable year by winning the World Tour Finals in London.

Djokovic, who faces a battle with fellow father Roger Federer to secure the year-end world No.1 spot ahead of next month's season-ending event at the O2 Arena, welcomed the birth of baby boy Stefan with wife Jelena last week.

Djokovic can still be the daddy

Novak welcomed baby Stefan last week © Getty Images

• The world No.1 will have to adjust to the realities of parenting on tour, writes Mark Hodgkinson, but it shouldn't stop him from achieving his ambitions in tennis.
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In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Djokovic revealed he is already getting stuck in with his duties as a dad - including changing nappies.

"Yes, I did it already a few times [changed nappies], because my wife she is recovering and she has a lot of work to do with the breastfeeding, I try to do all the other things," said Djokovic. "I bath my little boy. I change nappies, put him to sleep, it's the best thing in the world.

"People have been telling me to get ready for that, and I was wondering what they were talking about. 'OK,' I think, 'it's going to be amazing, but the best thing in the world?' And then you see the baby for the first time and you hold it in your arms and nothing compares to that.

"So I've got a new source of energy and inspiration right now, and hopefully one day my boy can see me play and compete for grand slam titles.

"As a strength, as an inspiration to play even better... It's quite amazing. To be honest, I still can't believe that I'm a father."

Djokovic began the defence of his Paris Masters crown with victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber on Tuesday © Getty Images

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Djokovic returned to action for the first time since becoming a father by beating Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 6-4 to begin the defence of his Paris Masters crown on Tuesday - a victory he celebrated by writing "Stefan, I love you - Papa" on the camera lens.

The win continued his fine recent form, after a post honeymoon dip in August, having extended his extraordinary unbeaten run in China to 24 matches, in contrast to his struggles at the start of the year.

There was the pain of failing to secure a career Grand Slam after losing his second French Open final - which was his third successive defeat in a major final with just one victory in six - before his Wimbledon triumph over Federer, but now he is targeting a third title at the O2 in four years.

"It was a very turbulent, very emotional, very tough first six months of the year," said Djokovic. "Then through Toronto, Cincinnati and the US Open I just wasn't… Even though I was playing OK, emotionally when I hit the wall, when you need to overcome mentally, I didn't have that feeling of freshness inside me. I felt very tired.

"But again, it's been a long year, many things have happened. I began to feel more recharged just before China. Now I want to finish the year as No 1 and try to do well at the O2. To finish the year with a title in London would be the cream on the cake, a crown for all the achievements I had this year."

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