London Alternate Janko Tipsarevic Looks to Djokovic For Help

Written by: Staff on 27th November 2011

London Alternate Janko Tipsarevic Looks to Djokovic For Help

Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia returns to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their at ATP World Tour tennis finals group match held in O2 Arena in London, Britain on 25 November 2011. EPA/KERIM OKTEN |

Janko Tipsarevic began his week as an alternate at the World Tour Finals, but ended it with a deciding hand in the semifinal line-up. After beating his celebrated compatriot Novak Djokovic in a tense group match, Jankovic was quick to praise the “Djokovic effect” and it’s influence on Serbian tennis.

“I feel extremely lucky that I am able to see the world’s best player, how is he living his life, doing practices, playing matches from a first row seat,” said the ninth-ranked Tipsarevic, who looks on his world No. 1 compatriot as something of a human reference book on the game and how it’s played.

“I’m the kind of guy who is not ashamed to ask anyone in order to improve. ‘What are you thinking? What are you doing? What are you working on? Any advices, any tips, whatever.’

“I really feel like being around him helped me to become a better player. But you have to know that this is only 5 percent. I feel that the main change comes within a player, and I can say within me that I had a will this year to manage to change some things.”

Tipsarevic was called into the breach earlier in the week as Andy Murray had to retire after one match with a groin muscle strain.

“DAILY TENNIS NEWS WIRE”

Topics: Janko Tipsarevic, Novak Djokovic