PREVIEW: Djokovic shoulders the year-end finals burden

By Bill Scott Nov 19, 2011, 16:40 GMT

London - Novak Djokovic Saturday pronounced his injured right shoulder '100 per cent' as the world number one prepared to open play at the ATP World Tour Finals.

The Serb will start his campaign for an 11th and final trophy of a remarkable season on Monday night when he plays Czech Tomas Berdych in group a match at the eight-man season wrap-up.

'As I remember, he was my first match last year,' said Djokovic, 'It will be tough for both of us. He's had great results in Paris (semi-finals last weekend).

'He's been winning indoors and likes the surface.'

After pulling out before his Paris quarter-final eight days ago with the lingering shoulder problems which also caused him trouble this month in Basle, Djokovic is optimistic that intense therapy had cured his problem.

'I've been serving at 100 per cent for the last two or three days,' said the winner of 10 titles in 2011. 'For me the shoulder is fine at the moment.

'It's recovered and ready to compete.'

The player who set the pace for the ATP until his physical letdown in September Davis Cup (abdominal muscle injury) said that despite what he has accomplished in 2011, he has plenty of motivation for 2012.

'It's hard to predict, but I'll do my best to try and get as close to this year's results as possible. That will be a really big ask after this year of 2011.

'But I'll take the best out of it an be proud of what I've accomplished and confident about what's coming up. It's always possible to get better. My game is complete but I still have room for improvement.'

Holder Roger Federer warmed up Saturday for his opening match Sunday against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a repeat of last weekend's Paris final won by the Swiss, training at the O2 arena with Tomas Berdych.

The other match on opening day features Rafael Nadal playing for the first time in six weeks as he starts with rookie Mardy Fish,

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