At 35, the challenges just keep coming for multi-tasking Swede Jonas Bjorkman.

The legs may be a little heavier, the feet half a step slower and the list of challengers growing longer, but Jonas Bjorkman still maintains that he's the best on tour… The best impersonator of his fellow players, that is.

"I don't want to sound cocky, but I'd still call [Novak] Djokovic the prince," Bjorkman says with a smile. "What he does well is to imitate the players, but he still hasn't been coming up with the strokes. He still has to work on that. But he's a great talent and a young guy with a very good sense of humor, so I wouldn't be surprised if I have to step aside soon and let him take over as king."

On the court, however, Bjorkman won't readily step aside for his younger rivals despite an ever-expanding list of responsibilities, which include a new baby and his role as chief editor of the new Swedish tennis magazine. Additionally, the 35 year old begins a new partnership in 2008 with Zimbabwean Kevin Ullyett while also working hard to stay competitive in singles after producing some of his best-ever Grand Slam performances as a solo act in 2006 (Wimbledon semifinals) and 2007 (fourth round at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon).

Looking further afield, Bjorkman could next year break a longstanding record for most matches (singles and doubles) played in the history of the ATP (since 1973). The Swede has played 1716 matches (comprising a 406-348 win-loss record in singles and a 675-287 record in doubles). Bjorkman is just 33 matches behind Jimmy Connors, who is No. 3 on the list. It's conceivable that by the end of 2009 he could challenge Brian Gottfried's record 1845 matches played. (See Bjorkman's full career activity: singles | doubles)

But the hunt will not begin until after the Australian Open. Bjorkman is at his Monte-Carlo residence with his wife Petra, who is due to deliver her second child any day now. Bjorkman had missed just one of the past 57 Grand Slam tournaments - the 2003 Australian Open, when son Max was born.

"We are expecting a girl and we're very excited to have one of each," Bjorkman says. "Our due date is on Max's birthday (January 15), so we're hoping she comes before or after. Since there is such a short time left in my career Petra and I decided that I should try to maintain the same schedule if I have one or two more years left in me and then after that I'll take on my full responsibilities at home and be a full-time dad."

Bjorkman also has his hands full as the chief editor of the new national tennis magazine of Sweden, following the demise of the country's former national tennis publication. Former Swedish players Mats Wilander, Katarina Lindquist, Tomas Hogstedt and Carl Axel Hageskog are also working on the magazine.

"We've got a good crew who really care about Swedish tennis," Bjorkman says. "Almost a year ago we didn't have a tennis magazine at all, which was quite embarrassing for such a successful tennis nation as Sweden. I thought it was a good opportunity at this stage of my career, and it's a good opportunity to help Swedish tennis."

Bjorkman's first two interviews were with James Blake over lunch in Cincinnati and his chief doubles rivals Bob and Mike Bryan on the eve of the US Open. "I was pleased to learn that the story of the Bryans sharing the same toothbrush was a myth," Bjorkman says. "With James being voted in the Top 50 sexiest men, I couldn't hold back and not ask about his charm with the girls. But unfortunately in the story we referenced his girlfriend and ran a picture of his ex-girlfriend. I showed him the spread in Gothenberg during Davis Cup. He joked that he'll never do an interview with me again, but he took it okay. As the chief editor I have to take responsibility for a mistake like that."

Bjorkman also takes responsibility for a critical decision a decade ago that, on reflection, may have cost him a much longer tenure in the singles Top 10 . Ten years ago he enjoyed his banner season on the ATP Tour: He won three titles, qualified for the ATP World Championships, was a member of Sweden's victorious Davis Cup team and notched a 71-26 singles match record on the season. He also had his best shot of winning a Grand Slam singles title. He fell to Greg Rusedski 7-5 in the fifth set in the US Open semifinals, missing the chance to play in the final Patrick Rafter, whom he had beaten four consecutive times, including twice during the year.