ATP Tour news: Stefanos Tsitsipas calls Novak Djokovic the 'gold standard' in tennis

Tsitsipas believes that Djokovic has taken the sport forward in leaps and bounds with his holistic approach.

He feels that Djokovic has numerous qualities that make him admirable as a sportsman.

"He is the toughest and the most consistent," Tsitsipas said.

"A perfectionist who took tennis to another kind of level.

"His diet, his physical work, the stretching, and his professionalism in every single area.

"I don't think there is a single thing that he hasn't thought of. Even the analysis I've heard from him. Novak is very advanced."

Tsitsipas feels that if he can learn from Djokovic it might help him ascend to the rank of World No 1.

"Once I get my mind around that and become more professional, even more than I already am, it shouldn't be an accident to get to number one. I know my abilities as an athlete and how much I have worked," Tsitsipas also said.

Aussie doubles legend Todd Woodbridge feels that Novak Djokovic is one of the favourites for the Australian Open in January.

Woodbridge said: "Because he was not allowed to play here last time, that will be added motivation. Also, Rafa [Nadal] won when Novak was not allowed to play. That too will be on his mind when he tries to reach the record of most number of grand slams won.

"The good news is that he will be playing at the Adelaide International so he will be in Australia for a few weeks before the Open starts. That will give him time to get all the stress and tension of last year out."

"There will be pressure from the media, but he has dealt with it very well. He is coming back to a country he loves playing in. He has won the Open nine times. He loves the surface, the atmosphere. I think he will be very driven to win here."

Djokovic has been rubbing off on his Falcons' teammates at the World Tennis League.

"We're having fun, enjoying, and at the same time competing," former World N0 2 Paula Badosa said after she and Grigor Dimitrov defeated the Hawks' Dominic Thiem and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, with heavy support from Djokovic on the team bench.

"It's a good opportunity for us, it's an amazing chance to share moments with Novak, learning from him as well."