Djokovic aims for No 2

Published on Sunday 4 January 2009 20:34

TOP seed Novak Djokovic has a chance to move ahead of Roger Federer to No 2 in the world rankings if he wins the Brisbane International tournament.

His biggest threat comes from second seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, the man he beat in the Australian Open final last year.

Djokovic is ten points behind Federer, who is starting his year playing an ATP event in Qatar. Neither are defending any points, so Djokovic can move ahead of Federer if he wins the inaugural Brisbane event.

Djokovic, who plays his first match tomorrow against Latvia's Ernests Gulbis, has spent ten days in the Serbian mountains and two weeks preparing on court in Monaco to get ready for the defence of his Australian Open title.

"I take the best memories of my career out of Melbourne last year, and I really look forward getting back there," he said. "Of course there's going to be a certain amount of expectations and pressure as the grand slam champion, but I will try to use it in my favor and look at it as a positive challenge."

Women's top-seeded Ana Ivanovic plays Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in her first-round match today .

Richard Gasquet of France, the seventh seed, recovered to beat countryman Marc Gicquel 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 yesterday in the first round.

In other men's matches, American Taylor Dent beat Steve Darcis of Belgium 7-6 (0), 6-2 and will play Gasquet in the second round.

Fourth seed Robin Soderling of Sweden beat American Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-3.