Novak Djokovic insists he's 'not vulnerable' after putting his slump behind him at ATP World Tour Finals

End on a high: Djokovic is hoping to win his sixth ATP World Tour Finals title
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Novak Djokovic has warned he is no longer vulnerable and he has his sights set on regaining the world No1 spot this week.

Djokovic has been usurped as the dominant force in tennis by Andy Murray but last night in two tight tie-breaks against a dogged Milos Raonic, he appeared to be playing himself into form at just the right time.

The anticipated final between him and Murray remains on but Djokovic warned the Scot he is a different player to that of recent months.

“I don’t feel vulnerable,” he said in the aftermath of his 7-6, 7-6 victory, shooting down the suggestion as quick as it was uttered.

But still he is not at the heights he has maintained for so long, and which have won him 12 Grand Slams and five ATP World Tour Final titles.

“I never felt unbeatable, and I never will… but I did have periods of my career, especially in the last five years, when I really felt very confident on the court, and I was dominating the play, winning many tournaments in a row, matches in a row,” he said.

“In terms of consecutive matches, it would probably be 2011 when I won 42, 43 matches in a row. You can’t rely on that and think like that’s going to be the case always.

“But knowing that I have done it helped me to do maybe half of that a few times. I guess even 10, 15, 20 matches in a row is pretty good. I’ll accept that.”

Against Raonic, there were moments when his trademark groundstrokes let him down, and occasions in the second set — twice he was up a break — that he should have rounded off the match.

But he was adamant he had taken confidence from winning two tie-breaks — during both he initially faced a deficit — as he booked his place in the semi-finals.

ATP World Finals 2016 at O2 Arena - In pictures

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Djokovic is not about to switch off against Gael Monfils in his final group match tomorrow with 200 points still at stake in the race for the No1 spot.

“This definitely can serve as a great wind in the back for the next match, matches to come,” said the Serbian.

“Other than a couple of loose service games, I thought it was a good performance. I should maybe have been a bit more aggressive in certain points, maybe too static in certain points. Maybe that caused a little big of a passive game.”

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