Dubai: Novak Djokovic is fighting against time to get ready for the bigger challenges lying in wait for him on the ATP Men's Tour.
"There is just one week to go before the next big ones in the US," Djokovic said after his 7-6 (5), 6-3 semifinal loss to American ace Andy Roddick in the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships late on Friday night.
Djokovic became an overnight hero in his homeland after he stunned top seed and world No 1 Roger Federer in the semifinals and then beat unseeded Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in the final to win the Australian Open - the first Serbian winner of a Grand Slam.
Phenomenal
"There is not much time for me to get ready for the real big ones, Indian Wells and Miami [later this month]. I am still not 100 per cent and I sort of expected things to be this way here," Djokovic said of his disappointing semifinal defeat to Roddick.
"I am pleased with the way I have performed here and a semifinal is a good one to have going into the two big tournaments to follow in the US," he added.
"I want to do well in the big tournaments and I hardly have a week before the tournament starts."
The 20-year-old's rise in the world rankings has been phenomenal in the past one year as he ended in the top 10 last season, compiling a personal high five ATP titles and reaching his first Grand Slam final.
He also led Serbia to the 2008 Davis Cup World Group by defeating Australia in a play-off tie.
Djokovic has stayed back in Dubai for a while and is expected to leave for the US later on Sunday.
"It's a 20-hour flight to Palm Springs and I am really looking forward to getting there as early as possible so that I can have at least five to six of practices before the tournament starts," Djokovic disclosed.
Through most of the semifinal encounter, Djokovic matched Roddick in all departments of the game, except perhaps the serves.
"That was the difference between us during the match," he admitted. "I should have got a few more returns in there, but that simply did not happen. However, I a still happy with my performance."
