Novak Djokovic says that his participation in the BNP Paribas Masters Paris/Bercy is not linked to a $1.6 million bonus he will receive from the ATP bonus pool for playing all but one Masters Series tournament this year.
Djokovic pulled out of the Masters Series Shanghai last month. Had he played Shanghai, he would have earned $2 million from the bonus pool, but he would have lost all of it if he hadn't played Paris. "It was really somehow funny for me to see how people are coming up with that story," Djokovic told reporters. "I even heard that I would get on the court and play a game just to get this money. I mean, this is ridiculous. I want to play well here. I want to get as far as possible, and then London (for next week's ATP Tour finals), which is the most important tournament in this part of the year for all of us."
Djokovic admitted to having shoulder pain last week in Basel after he lost to Kei Nishikori in the semis and was questionable for Paris. "I really wanted to come because I played at Basel a couple of matches, but I need more matches before London," he said. “I'm definitely intending to finish the season strong. Maybe I'm physically paying for the long season that I had, and the unfortunate injury after the U.S. Open, the Davis Cup, and everything. So I think everything is kind of catching up with me now...If I know that I'm physically good enough, in good condition to be competing, I will compete. If I don't, I will not compete. It's as simple as that."