New York: Having bagged three Grand Slam titles in 2015, newly crowned US Open champion Novak Djokovic asserted that the current season has been one of the greatest of his illustrous career. The world number one has been in red hot form this season, having won the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles earlier in the year.
He vanquished a valiant Roger Federer 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in a hard fought final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium here late on Sunday to underline his status as the most dominant force in men’s tennis at present. “It’s been an incredible season. Next to 2011 probably the best season of my life,” Djokovic told Sky Sports after the final.
“But I’m enjoying this year more than any previous one because I’m a husband and I’m a father and that makes it even more sweeter.” “I love this sport.” The 28-year-old also heaped praise on Federer, who missed out on the chance to claim the 18th Grand Slam title of his career.
Djokovic, who had beaten Federer in the Wimbledon final in July, asserted that he had come prepared for a tough challenge from the Swiss veteran. “It’s so difficult to play against Roger Federer in finals of Grand Slams but you know against one of my biggest rivals it’s a great achievement and a great win. I will try to enjoy it now.
“He has a lot of variety in his game, slices and coming to the net — I knew he was going to play like that — but one thing is to prepare while the other to actually experience it on the court,” Djokovic said.
“That’s who Roger is — that’s why he has won so many grand slam titles. I knew that, coming to the court. I knew he’s going to be aggressive. He’s going to try to disrupt my rhythm, and he’s going to put a lot of variety in his game. “But I was ready for it. I was ready for the battle. That’s what it was — three hours, 20 minutes,” he added.
“We pushed each other to the limit, as we always do. It’s an ultimate challenge that I have now, winning against Roger back-to-back finals in Wimbledon and here, US Open. It’s tremendous. I’m really, really proud of it.” The top seed also revealed that he had to be mentally tough as the 34-year-old Federer stretched him to the limit.
“Just believing — trying to stay mentally tough. I don’t think there was a single point in the match when I could entirely relax even when I was 5-2 up the fourth and serving for the match,” the Serbian ace said. “I thought 15-0 and a couple of good serves, but Roger kept pushing and kept making me play an extra shot.”
