Novak Djokovic has vowed to convince fans that he is not public enemy No 1 even if he surpasses people's champion Roger Federer as the greatest grand slam title winner of all time.
The world No 1 saved two match points to clinch a fifth Wimbledon title and 16th major on Sunday, shattering Federer's bid to become the oldest grand slam champion in the longest final ever contested at the tournament.
Despite being outplayed by the 37-year-old Swiss for large parts of the knife-edge encounter, the top seed emerged victorious 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 4-6, 13-12.
At four hours and 57 minutes, it was the longest Wimbledon final and the first to be settled by a final set tiebreak.
Djokovic is the first man in 71 years to win the title from match points down, saving two in the 16th game of the deciding set.
His major title tally is now just two behind Rafael Nadal and four off the all-time men's grand slam record of 20 held by Federer.
He has time on his side, being a year younger than Nadal and more than five years younger than the legendary Swiss.
___________________
The 16 times Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have met in grand slams
-
2007 Australian Open fourth round: Roger Federer beat Novak Djokovic in straight sets on his way to winning the 2007 Australian Open for the third time and his 10th grand slam title overall. The Swiss won the opening major of the year without dropping a set. AFP -
2007 US Open final: Djokovic began his first grand slam final strongly, breaking Federer in the 11th game of the first set. With Djokovic serving for the set, Federer saved five set points to come back and claim the first set in a tiebreak. Federer claimed the second set via a tiebreak and the Swiss closed out the match in the 10th game of the third set by breaking Djokovic's serve to win in straight sets. AFP -
2008 Australian Open semi-finals: Djokovic registered his first win over the Swiss at a grand slam to reach the Australian Open final in straight sets. It was the first time in nearly four years that someone defeated Federer in straight sets at a major. Djokovic would go on to win the first of his seven Melbourne titles with victory over Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final. AFP -
2008 US Open semi-finals: Federer beat the Serb in a four-set semi-final at Flushing Meadows on his way to winning a fifth straight US Open title. AFP -
2009 US Open semi-finals: A match best remembered for an outrageous between-the-legs shot to set up match point against Djokovic. Federer won in straight sets but would go on to lose the final to Juan Martin del Potro. AFP -
2010 US Open semi-finals: A meeting between Federer and Djokovic at Flushing Meadows was now something of a permanent fixture as they met in the final four for a third-straight year. However, the tide was turned in the Federer-Djokovic rivalry in the latter’s favour. The Serb saved two match points to defeat Federer in a five-set thriller to reach his first US Open final, although he would lose to Rafael Nadal. AFP -
2011 Australian Open semi-finals: Despite winning in straight sets, Djokovic took three hours to put Federer away 7-6. 7-6. 6-4. Djokovic would go on to beat Andy Murray in the Melbourne Park final. AFP -
2011 French Open semi-finals: Djokovic entered the match on the back of a 43-game win streak but was unable to get the better of Federer, who won 7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 to advance to his fifth Roland Garros final before losing to Rafael Nadal. AFP -
2011 US Open semi-finals: Another five-set thriller in which Federer gained the upper hand in the opening exchanges before being reeled in by his Serb opponent. Djokovic’s 6-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 victory saw him advance to the final where he would beat another great rival, Nadal, in four sets to clinch his first US Open title. AFP -
2012 French Open semi-finals: Djokovic advanced to his first French Open final with a straight-sets victory over Federer to even up their clay-court record to 3-3. He would lose to Nadal in the final. AFP -
2012 Wimbledon semi-finals: Federer secured a place in an eighth Wimbledon final by overcoming Djokovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the semi-finals. With the win, Federer also became the first player to defeat Djokovic at all four grand slams. AFP -
2014 Wimbledon final: The first Wimbledon final played between the two. Djokovic prevailed in an epic duel lasting three hours and 56 minutes to clinch his second title at the All England Club. AFP -
2015 Wimbledon final: Defending champion Djokovic saw off seven-time champion Roger Federer in four sets to win his third Wimbledon crown and ninth grand slam title, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3. AFP -
2015 US Open final: Djokovic showed why he was now widely considered the best men’s player on the planet with an exemplary display to beat Federer 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in another thrilling final. AFP -
2016 Australian Open semi-finals: The last time the two met in a grand slam was in Melbourne Park where Djokovic easily won the first two sets but Federer rallied to win the third. Djokovic, however, broke Federer in the eighth game of the fourth set and then held to win the match and move on to the final. AFP -
2019 Wimbledon final: Novak Djokovic survived two match points to successfully defend his Wimbledon title, shattering Roger Federer's bid to become the oldest grand slam champion in the longest final ever played at the tournament. Reuters
___________________
After Sunday's epic triumph, Djokovic revealed he was able to turn the overwhelmingly pro-Federer, 14,000-strong Centre Court crowd in his favour by training his mind.
"I like to transmutate it in a way: When the crowd is chanting 'Roger' I hear 'Novak'," said the 32-year-old Serb.
"It sounds silly, but it is like that."
Djokovic has spent the best part of his career in pursuit of Nadal and Federer and attempting to seduce fans sceptical of his character.
For many he is viewed as too intense, too insincere, too calculating and prone to fads.
Federer and Nadal, in comparison, are treated almost reverentially.
"It's hard to not be aware of the crowd. You have that kind of electric atmosphere, that kind of noise," said Djokovic.
"Of course, if you have the majority of the crowd on your side, it helps. When you don't, then you have to find it within, I guess."
Djokovic insists he won't get distracted by the pursuit of Federer's record haul.
"Whether I'm going to be able to do it or not, I don't know.
"I'm not really looking at age as a restriction of any kind for me at least. What I said on the court, I really meant it: Roger really inspires me with his effort at his age.
"It just depends how long I'm going to play, whether I'm going to have a chance to make historic No. 1 or Slams."
When asked if he sees himself still playing at 37, Djokovic said the motivation to be treated with the same respect is strong.
Eventually, hearing screams of "Let's go, Novak, let's go" will be more than welcome.
"Hopefully in five years' time I can be hearing the same chants."
Djokovic is by far the most consistent of the 'Big Three' at the Slams.
Since the start of 2015, he has won nine of the 19 majors played with Nadal winning four and Federer three.
The other three have been split between Stan Wawrinka (two) and Andy Murray (one).
On Sunday, Djokovic saved match points in the 16th game of the deciding set, which ran for over two hours and was settled by a 12-12 tiebreak for the first time in a singles match at the tournament.
It was another display of stunning mental fortitude.
He has been in similar predicaments in the past against Federer -- saving two match points in both of his semi-final victories over the Swiss at the 2010 and 2011 US Opens.
"I just try to never lose self-belief, just stay calm, just focus on trying to get the ball back, return, which wasn't serving me very well today.
"But in the most important moments, all three tiebreaks I guess, I found my best game."
He was off the pace for large parts of the final, only carving out his first break points in the eighth game of the fourth set.
Federer won more points in the match with 218 to 204, broke serve seven times compared to three, hit 25 aces to 10 and 94 winners to Djokovic's 54.
"I thought I could have played better. But the one thing that probably allowed me to come back and save match points and win this match was the mental stability," admitted the champion.
dj/pi/dh
