World No. 3 Novak Djokovic stopped by The Tonight Show with
Jay Leno, Wednesday in Los Angeles, to catch up with the late night talk show
host on the eve of the Pacific Life Open, the year's first ATP Masters Series
event.
"Can I get more applause? I'm a bit nervous," said the 20-year-old Djokovic
as he walked out to greet Leno and the audience.
The affable Serb, known as much for his spot-on impersonations of other
players as for his success on the courts, bantered with Leno on a range of
topics, including the benefits of becoming a Grand Slam champion.
"The first thing that comes up to my mind is the girls are looking better
now," he joked. "I get first class, better meals probably, so it’s a healthier
life."
Djokovic also spoke of the surprising success of Serbian tennis stars, among
them top Pacific Life Open women’s seed Ana Ivanovic and No. 3
seed Jelena Jankovic.
"Everybody is so confused and surprised how did we do it from such a small
country," he said. "Since we have a lot of difficulties in the country the past
twenty years, probably because of the radiation we are doing good now."
"Playing with three arms!" Leno quipped in response.
American James Blake, the 2006 Indian Wells finalist, also
hit the late show circuit this week, appearing on the Jimmy Kimmel Show on
Tuesday. Meanwhile, Spaniard Fernando Verdasco spoke with TV
personality El Gordo Joel, Wednesday morning as a guest on Telemundo's
national sports TV program, "Titulares y Mas."
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