'I respect Nadal more than anyone, but I don't think I'm obsessed,' said Djokovic

In his recent interview, Rafael Nadal said that he and Novak Djokovic have different motivations, stating that Novak is obsessed with records and the number of Majors won.

Responding ahead of the Serbia Open, Novak declared that he doesn't feel obsessed with anything in life and follows the path set when he was a kid. Novak has been talking about his goals ever since he picked up the racquet, changing nothing in that area and seeing that as a way to motivate himself and push even harder towards his goals.

"I can't speak on Rafa's behalf; I do not know the way he thinks, but it is his right to voice an opinion: how he sees me in regards to records and so on. I do not feel obsessed with anything in life; what I feel is passion and colossal desire. I am going towards achieving my goals, and I have never had a problem verbalizing them. Maybe someone can't say something and then stick to it, but I never found it hard to say: 'I want to break that record or reach a certain goal.' I do not know why that would be a bad thing, not just in terms of records, but anything, politics in tennis, for instance.

Ever since I was a young player, I did not fear voicing my goals: I wanted to be number one and win Majors. Of course, those goals are growing - when you fulfill one, another one appears. It is my path, and it is unique, just like Rafa's. It is all a matter of perception and interpretation of what one says. I respect Rafa, probably more than any other player; he is the biggest rival I had in my life. Everything he has achieved, his dedication to tennis and the way he goes about practicing and tennis in general, these qualities of his are worthy of admiration. He knows what sources of motivation he has; I can't go into that.

I have said many times that the love for the sport is the main motive why I keep playing professional tennis. I mean, guys, if I didn't love the competition, there would be no other reason for me to compete; there is no pressure of any kind. I go on playing because I still feel the fire and the desire to win and because I have the support of my close ones. I will keep going as long as it is like that," Novak Djokovic said.