Djokovic tries to avoid the pressure of World Tour Finals hopes

By Bill Scott Nov 17, 2011, 17:06 GMT

London - Novak Djokovic is hoping to wrap up the season of his life with an 11th title of 2011 at the ATP World Tour Finals starting Sunday.

But the world number one also realises that he can have few complaints about what he's already accomplished in a runaway season of record-breaking.

As he heads into play - his first match is Monday evening at the eight-man event against Group A rival Tomas Berdych - Djokovic will put his recent right shoulder injury to a test.

'I don't feel obliged to win the tournament in order to make this season perfect but I will do my best to prepare and finish off the season in style,' he said in the run-up to the year-ender. 'You need to be satisfied with any success in sport and life. You don't need a huge celebration but there is an inner satisfaction and you have to appreciate it.

'The positive momentum I have had this year equals the confidence I have in myself and that is the most important asset you have as an athlete or a person.'

Djokovic, winner of three of the four Grand Slams this season, would be pleased to conclude with a London double after winning a breakthrough Wimbledon title in July over Rafael Nadal.

The Spaniard heads the rival Group B, which features Roger Federer, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mardy Fish. Djokovic's Group A also comprises Andy Murray and Spain's David Ferrer.

Djokovic has having therapy on the right shoulder which left him unable to play his Paris quarter-final last week against Tsonga, the eventual Masters 1000 finalist against Federer.

Murray, the form player of last month with three titles in three weeks - Bangkok, Tokyo and Shanghai - in Asia, has won 18 of his last 19 matches in that period.

His only loss was in the Paris quarters to Berdych, a three-hour-plus struggle which turned on a few points.

'The first few times I played the Tour Finals I felt like it was great to be there, great to be involved in the event,' said Murray.

'I've always played well there but never managed to get to the final or win it, so this year I'd like to do that. It's a big challenge - not many guys have been able to win it.

'It's a good surface for me so hopefully I can have a good run there.'

Federer comes to the eight-day wrap-up as the nominal favourite after winning his last two events and remaining injury-free. First-timer Fish has been battling a groin muscle injury which hampered him in his last two events but is determined to take to the court no matter what his physical condition.

In Sunday's opening play, five-time year-end champion Federer plays Tsonga in a re-run of last weekend's Paris final won by the Swiss, while Nadal, competing for the first time nearly six weeks, plays Fish.

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