Dominator Djokovic sets his sights on tennis greatness

Sep 13, 2011, 3:21 GMT

New York - The sky's the limit for Novak Djokovic as the Serb looks ahead to even greater tennis achievements after defeating Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 7-5 to win his first US Open title.

The 24-year-old Serb owns three of the four Grand Slams this season, missing out only on Roland Garros. And with his 2011 record already standing at a devastating 63-2, there is no reason for Djokovic not to dream of a completing possible sweep of the majors in 2012.

'There is still a lot of things to prove, to myself, to the tennis world,' said the winner of the delayed Monday match which took just over four hours. 'I still want to win many more events, many more major events.

'The love for the sport keeps me going. If the feeling of winning stays with me, I will keep fighting for more trophies.'

The winner of two Australian, one Wimbledon and the New York title added: 'It would be unbelievable to be able to complete the Grand Slam, to win the French Open. It's something that is definitely an ambition, but it's going to take time.'

Djokovic has been pinching himself all season at what he is still achieving with another two and a half months left in the ATP campaign until the November year-end finals in London.

'The results that I have this year are amazing, and definitely something that I haven't expected. But they keep coming because I think I have a great scheduling this year.

'I know when to have a little break, when to rest my body, when to get ready and prepare well for (things like) the US Open swing, the clay swing, now the Asian swing.

'The bottom line is that that's the whole point, to win Grand Slams, because these are the tournaments most important and most valuable in our sport, four Grand Slams. So this is where you want to win.'

World number one Djokovic credits not only his coaching and fitness team with helping him to his record-breaking season but also a sense of maturity and serenity.

'Right now I feel drained emotionally and physically and mentally, but it's normal after such a long year, so many matches. But I have this trophy here, and this is what I was fighting for.

'I guess it takes some time to realize the success that I had this year, especially now, I mean, winning another major. It's going to probably all settle down towards the end of the year when I take some time off and analyze the year.

'But right now I'm all over positive emotions. It's really hard to find the words that can describe the feeling that I had and that I have still. But I know this couldn't come overnight.'

Djokovic's next task will be to hopefully lead Serbia in a Davis Cup semi-final in Belgrade against Argentina from Friday. But the exhausted winner said he will start thinking of that commitment a bit closer to the day.