SHANGHAI -- If Novak Djokovic were asked what's his top objective is at this juncture in his career, he'd say the pursuit of happiness.
That's definitely a stark contrast to recent times when the seemingly untouchable world No. 1 appeared focused on the pursuit of perfection.
But times change.
The 29-year-old Serb, who has ended four of the past five years at No. 1, has run into a rough patch recently. While he's hinted on a few occasions to "private issues" of concern, there's also been frustrations on the job front.
Since his long-awaited victory at Roland Garros in early June, Djokovic bowed out of Wimbledon in the third round in a match in which he seemed uncharacteristically fidgety, was reduced to tears when upset by Juan Martin del Potro in the first round at the Olympics and lost a four-setter to Stan Wawrinka in the US Open final.
Reassessing his current situation, Djokovic's mantra heading toward the conclusion of the 2016 season, where he could be in a battle with Andy Murray to retain his No. 1 spot, is an interesting one with ranking points and titles at stake.
On Tuesday evening, playing his first match since the US Open because of a right elbow injury, Djokovic beat Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-3 in the second round to start defense of his Shanghai title. Afterward, Djokovic had a holistic approach on his return to the court.
"That's my priority now, to get back into that inner joy and really feeling happy for being on the court, and everything else -- that comes second and behind that," Djokovic said after the match.
It's hard not to take note that practically every thought Djokovic utters here in Shanghai sounds as if it was carved out while taking a turn on Dr. Phil's couch. His self-analysis reveals exactly when his world took its unexpected swerve. Finally fulfilling his most cherished quest -- a Roland Garros title, his 12th major win, to complete his set of Grand Slam trophies -- resulted in a raw positive-negative reaction.
"The period after Roland Garros I had a little bit of difficulties to enjoy," Djokovic admitted. "Maybe I was exhausted, mentally and emotionally. I didn't know actually how I'm going to react after winning the French Open, because it was very emotional. I was obviously content, but on the other hand I was also very exhausted, and I needed some time to recover, to regroup."
Djokovic was quick to make sure no one mistook his philosophizing as a total disregard for his achievements.
"When I said I'm not interested only in winning and lifting trophies, that doesn't mean that I'm not interested in that at all," he said. "Of course, when I get on the court I will do my best to win the match, as there is no change in that. The shift I would say -- the priority and the mindset towards tennis, career, towards my life -- it's different now."
Djokovic's closest competitors have all battled demons at times as well.
Murray, who recently won a second Wimbledon title and defended his Olympic gold medal, offered only empathy for Djokovic's current situation.
"I think it happens to players at different stages, on all different levels," Murray said in Shanghai. "I think when you have been trying and working so hard for something like Novak has, to try and win the French Open, for him it was obviously a huge goal and big target for a number of years. Then to finally do it, the few days afterward you're on a huge high and you feel great. Then the low can be pretty tough after that as well, to find new motivation and new goals, and what it is you want to get out of your tennis again."
Rafael Nadal, a 14-time Grand Slam champion plagued with injuries and without a Grand Slam title the past two years, believes on-court endeavors never equate to contentment.
"Confidence is when you win," Nadal said. "That's simple and easy, no? Being happy is away from the tennis court. The life is much more than tennis, for me, personally. It's true that the tennis has been for the last 20 years an important part of my life, but in life there is a lot or more important things than just the game.
"So happiness is the other things: the health of your family, the people who you love. That's, in my opinion, is happiness."
For Djokovic, tennis remains an internal crusade, but one that has changed.
"I guess I'm not the only one in the world, person or tennis player, that has to face this kind of life's lessons and challenges and, I guess, evolution of some sort," Djokovic said. "Each day for all of us is different, even though sometimes we think that it's the same."
So what should we expect from Djokovic as he spends time on his new soul-searching mission?
"How long that's going to take, I don't know," Djokovic said. "I do really feel like I'm already getting better because I changed my mindset."