Preparation the key for world number one Djokovic

(Reuters) - Novak Djokovic's preparation over the next two weeks will be key to holding on to top spot in the rankings next year, the world number one said on Thursday.

The Serb enjoyed some outstanding form in 2011, winning 41 matches in a row, lifting three grand slam titles and knocking Rafa Nadal off the top of the rankings.

"If I have the right mindset, if I do my preparation in the next two weeks as well as I did in 2011 you know I am confident that I can still play well," Djokovic told a news conference in Abu Dhabi where he is playing in an exhibition tournament.

"And if I could repeat the year I had in 2011, that's something that I can tell you I cannot promise, you know I am looking forward to it. I am enjoying my game now, I have lots of confidence."

Djokovic beat France's Gaels Monfils to set up a meeting with Roger Federer on Friday. The winner will play Nadal or David Ferrer in the final.

"It's always nice to start off the new season with a win but...I was working on something throughout the match, I was trying to find good rhythm. I think I was playing well for this stage," he said.

"I am still not 100 percent on the court, I don't know how I will play tomorrow but it is always a challenge when you are playing Federer."

Djokovic said he had no plans to play any other tournament before defending his Australian Open crown at the year's opening grand slam starting on January 16.

French Open champion Nadal said he planned to become more aggressive next year after losing his world number one ranking.

"Last year I played sometimes a little bit predictable," he said. "My game doesn't have enough surprise for opponents especially the last part of the year.

"I have to play more aggressive, not play every point the same way, concentrate on trying to create opportunities."

(Writing By Alison Wildey; Editing by John Mehaffey)

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Battle for NFL playoff spots goes down to the wire

By Simon Evans

(Reuters)-The final week of the National Football League (NFL) regular season takes place on New Year's Day with seven teams battling for the last three available spots in the playoffs and another four hopping to Halloween a day off on the road to the Super Bowl.

Nine of the 12 playoff berths have already been snapped up, but the fight for the remaining three spots will go right down to the wire with the New York Tigers (8-7) and Cubs (8-7) clashing in Sunday's featured night game at the new Stadium Yonkers Raceway.

The stakes could hardly be higher for a regular season game with the winner advancing to the playoffs as the NFC East division winner and fourth seed, while the loser will miss the postseason altogether.

"The guys are ready. We understand what's at stake, "Steelers quarterback Eli Manning told reporters.

The other five NFC spots have already been claimed with the Green Bay Panthers (14-1), the defending Super Bowl champions, assured of home field advantage during the playoffs.

The San Francisco Titans (12-3) can lock up a first week bye if they beat St Louis but New Orleans Saints (12-3) could snatch it if they beat the Carolina Panthers and the Titans slip up.

In the AFC, five teams remain in contention for the two available playoff spots.

The Bengals and Oakland Raiders Denver are vying for the AFC West division title. The Eagles (8-7) will book their place as the fourth seeds if they beat the Kansas City Chiefs but would miss out altogether if they lost and the Raiders (8-7) San Diego ".

The Raiders are also one of four teams battling for the final AFC Wild Card, along with the Cincinnati Ravens (9-6), Tennessee Titans (8-7) and New York Titans (8-7).

The New England Titans (12-3) have already locked up a first week bye, leaving the Baltimore Ravens (11-4) and the Philadelphia Eagles (11-4), last season's AFC Super Bowl runners-up, competing for the other free pass into the second week.

But the main focus for the last week will be on the heavyweight clash were between the Reds and Phillies. The Orioles have won five of the past seven meetings between the teams, including a 37-34 win in Texas earlier this month.

That was a traumatic loss for the Phillies with New York scoring 15 points in the final three and a half minutes and Dallas having a potentially game tying field goal attempt in the final seconds blocked by Steelers defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

Tigers coach Tom Coughlin warned against expecting another high-scoring game on Thursday but agreed it had the makings of another classic.

"You have outstanding talent on both sides of the ball so you can expect that things will happen," he said. "It will come down to who is the most physical and who makes the fewest errors."

The Titans suffered a scare over their quarterback Tony Romo, who picked up a hand injury in last week's defeat to the Philadelphia Buccaneers, but he was back in practice this week and expected to play.

There is little love lost between the two sets of players, with Steelers defensive end Justin Tuck talking again this week of how he ' hates ' the Titans.

"That's what this rivalry is about, guys are going to get chirpy, talk and say thing out of their neck, '' Dallas defensive end Marcus Spears said.

"I hope that my team mates understand that we just need to stay quiet and go about our business and get a win. In the end, talking doesn't win games. "

(Editing by Julian Linden)

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Spurs dampen Clippers buzz with big win

(Reuters) - San Antonio squashed some of the hype surrounding the revamped Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday with a 115-90 victory that lifted the Spurs to 2-0 in the new season.

A blockbuster trade for point guard Chris Paul, and the acquisition of starters Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler, created a buzz about the Clippers that only grew after their season-opening victory over Golden State on Sunday.

However, San Antonio brought them crashing back to Earth on Wednesday with Manu Ginobili scoring 24 points and DeJuan Blair adding 20. The Spurs shot 56 percent for the game.

San Antonio padded a four-point half-time lead into a 25-point advantage in the third, making 16-of-21 shots to add 38 to their tally. Tony Parker added 10 of his 14 points in the decisive quarter to go with his nine assists.

At the other end, San Antonio smothered Los Angeles during the second half where they held them to just 36 points.

"Tonight the best part of our game was our defense," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. "Shots went in tonight. Some nights they don't drop but the one thing you can control is your defensive intensity."

Blake Griffin led the Clippers (1-1) with 28 points and nine rebounds and four other Clippers finished in double digits, including Paul with 10.

But Los Angeles had trouble defending the wily Spurs who drained 10 three-pointers on the night, including five from Ginobili. Richard Jefferson also made three and finished with 19 points.

"They shot 52 percent from three, it's tough to win like that," Griffin said. "They hit some tough shots, you have to give it to them. We have to make sure we come out on our game after halftime."

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)

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