Tennis:Novak Djokovic's record-breaking Australian Open victory over Rafael Nadal has the Serbian talking up his chances of glory at the second grand slam of 2012 at Roland Garros and also the Olympic Games.
Djokovic outlasted Nadal yesterday in an epic five-set encounter which lasted five hours and 53 minutes to make it the longest grand slam final in history and the longest match ever staged at this tournament.
The world number one, who retained the Melbourne title he won last year at the start of a remarkable 12 months which also saw him win at Wimbledon and the US Open, was then quick to turn his attention to the French Open, the only major to so far elude him.
“I am prioritising the grand slams this year, as every year, and the Olympics,” he said. “That’s also one of my highest goals.
“That doesn’t mean I’m not going to prepare well and perform my best at the other tournaments but it’s the grand slams that matter the most.
“So I want to do well and get to my first final at least in Paris.
“I have never been to the final there and I have a feeling that I am ready this year to achieve that.”
Currently nothing seems unachievable for the 24-year-old.
The victory over Nadal meant he became just the fifth man in history to claim three successive grand slam crowns and the will-to-win displayed here was remarkable.
He added: “You are in pain, you are suffering, and you are trying to activate your legs, you’re trying to push yourself through another point, just one more point, one more game.
“You’re going through so much suffering your toes are bleeding. Everything is just outrageous but you’re still enjoying the pain.
“I am a professional tennis player and I am sure any of my colleagues would say the same: we live for these matches.
“We work every day and are trying to dedicate our lives to this sport to come to the situation where we play a near six-hour match for a grand slam title.”
Following his exertions here, the Serbian is going to take some time off.
“I am going to try to enjoy this victory as much as I can,” he said.
“Then it is back to the office, back to work.
“There is much that awaits me but I should definitely enjoy the present.”
Nadal may not have won the match but he felt there was a lot he could take away from Melbourne.
He has now lost his last seven matches with Djokovic but he felt this was as close as he has got in the previous six.
“I wanted to win but I am happy with how I did,” he said.
“I had my chances against the best player in the world and I played one against one.
“I didn’t play at a lower level than him and that’s a positive for me.
“I am happy that I am on the right path.”