Japan Open: 'With A Few More Kilos, I'll Be Ready To Compete,' Djokovic Jokes With Sumo Wrestlers

Novak Djokovic stepped on a dohyo - a sumo wrestling ring - for the first time and learned a few moves on Monday. The World No. 1 tennis star was in Tokyo ahead of his maiden appearance at the Japan Open.

Apart from his terrific tennis skills, Djokovic is also known for being a fun character off the court. He visited Ryogoku Edo-Noren, a facility with restaurants that features a sumo wrestling ring. After he watched retired professional sumo wrestlers do their Keiko (morning practice), he volunteered to learn a few moves of sumo wrestling.

The Serbian got nostalgic as he revealed that during his childhood, he and his father used to support Akebono Taro, an American-born Japanese sumo wrestler.

"It’s a great experience. I’ve never had this experience before. It’s one of the most popular sports in Japan. Speaking with my father yesterday on the phone I was telling him that I’m going to have an opportunity to meet sumo wrestlers. He and I were remembering many years ago at home [when] we used to watch Akebono [Tarō, who reached Yokozuna status], who was someone that we supported a lot," Djokovic told ATPtour.com.

Djokovic, apparently, even tried to move one of the wrestlers but his effort went in vain. As long as he was there with the wrestlers, the Serb learned like a good student. He also learned Seiko and Suri-Ashi among other sumo moves.

Being as witty as always, Djokovic said, "I felt that I am out of shape [for sumo] a little bit. I think with a few more kilos, I’ll be ready to compete.

"Probably three times as much as I have right now would be the right measurement for me to compete," he added.

Djokovic was very impressed with the wrestlers' flexibility and technique. He said, "It’s quite impressive to see also how flexible they are. I believe at the beginning they were demonstrating their flexibility. I didn’t think that they were that flexible considering it’s a heavyweight sport, but I see that they are paying a lot of attention to the mobility of their joints and the flexibility, which is of course what allows them to move around as agile as possible at their weight," the current No. 1 tennis player added.

Until a few days back, Djokovic was not sure if he'll be able to participate in Japan Open due to a shoulder injury, that had earlier forced him out of US Open. Japan Open is set to be played from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 at Tokyo's Ariake Coliseum Stadium.