It is tricky times for tennis: Djokovic

Tennis is going through "tricky" times amid the swirling "rumours" of doping and betting, concedes Novak Djokovic but the World No.1 says he would not question the sport's integrity till the time concrete evidence is presented to prove wrongdoing.
The Serbian star, who won his third Laureus Sportsperson of the Year award here, said he is proud to be part of a sport which to his knowledge is still clean.
"It's tricky for tennis. There are many stories that go around; betting, match-fixing, doping, it seems the weight has come down on tennis. But I think it all comes down to anti-doping agencies, governing bodies; they need to come out with proofs, if they don't it's only rumours. I'm proud to be part of a sport that is clean," Djokovic said after the awards ceremony in a press conference.

The 28-year-old Australian Open champion was reacting to recent statements by British star Andy Murray that the sport is not entirely clean.
The affable Serb said he does not share the concerns expressed by Murray.
"I don't share his concern. As long as we don't have proof that the sport is not clean, it is clean. I know Andy, I have spoken to him, he didn't mean anything wrong," he said.

Tennis has been hit by allegations of betting and doping in the last few months with Maria Sharapova getting suspended for using a recently-banned substance Meldonium. The Russian star, however, can expect some relief after WADA decided to penalise only those who used it after January 1.

Besides offering a passionate defence of his controversy-struck sport, Djokovic also spoke of his astonishing run in the circuit, during which he won three Grand Slams last year.
Djokovic said his secret lies in not "prioritising trophies".
"I can't speak for others but I extract my energy from my passion for the sport and life in general. That helps me stay humble and grounded. I never prioritise trophies as my motivation. You need something else to drive you, not just achievement," he said.
One thing missing from his decorated trophy cabinet is an Olympic gold medal and the 2008 bronze-winner said he is putting the upcoming Games in Rio at par with Grand Slams as far as preparations are concerned.

"Olympics is as important as Grand Slams because we don't get the experience of playing in a team too much. I feel privileged to be going to Rio and I would definitely playing both singles and doubles.
World number two Murray is shaping up as Djokovic's
greatest threat.
He may be 8,000 points behind in the world rankings, but the former US Open and Wimbledon winner has developed a taste for clay relatively late in his career.
His 6-3, 6-3 win over Djokovic at the Foro Italico came on his 29th birthday.
- Murray threat -
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It was the first title in Rome by a British player since Patrick Hughes in 1931 and ended Djokovic's 17-match winning streak against top 10 opponents.

Murray's three career titles on clay have all been in the last 12 months -- Munich and Madrid in 2015 topped off by Rome.
He has also steadily improved in Paris with three semi-final runs in his last four appearances, losing a five-set epic to Djokovic in 2015.
"I had always been told that clay should really be my best surface. I'm going to Roland Garros with a lot of confidence and really good preparation. I feel like I'm on the right track," said the Scot.
Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal could be the kingmaker in Paris where he will be seeded at five and a likely quarter-final opponent for either Djokovic or Murray.

Written off after a 2015 campaign saw him endure his worst season in a decade, the 29-year-old Spaniard won in Monte Carlo for the ninth time and then clinched the Barcelona crown to equal Guillermo Vilas's record of 49 career clay-court titles.
A semi-final run in Madrid and quarter-final spot in Rome -- where it took Murray and Djokovic respectively to halt him -- illustrated his enduring power.
World number three Roger Federer, with his 35th birthday looming in August, has played only four tournaments in 2016.
A knee injury sidelined him after the Australian Open until Monte Carlo before a back problem ruled him out of Madrid.

The Swiss, the 2009 French Open champion, lasted just two matches in Rome where he was dumped out by Dominic Thiem.
Defending champion Wawrinka, 30, has endured a roller-coaster clay-court season -- a quarter-final run in Monte Carlo followed by an opening loss in Madrid and just one victory in Rome.
World number six Kei Nishikori of Japan remains an outside hope.
The 26-year-old was runner-up in Barcelona to Nadal and then lost semi-finals to Djokovic in Madrid and Rome.
But Nishikori's record at the French Open is modest with a quarter-final spot last year representing his best performance.