US Open champion Novak Djokovic: I owe Federer, Nadal

Serb says rivalry with Federer and Nadal has inspired him to great heights after straight sets victory over Del Potro in US Open final sees him move level with Sampras on 14 grand slams

The US flag is displayed before Novak Djokovic of Serbia battles Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in their 2018 US Open men's singles final match in New York. AFP

Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns the ball during his men's Singles finals match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. AFP

Novak Djokovic of Serbia serves the ball during his men's Singles finals match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. AFP

Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return to Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. EPA

Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. AFP

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during his men's Singles finals match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentin. AFP

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during his men's Singles finals match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. AFP

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts as he plays Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. EPA

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during his men's Singles finals match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. AFP

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts as he plays Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. EPA

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 09: Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during his men's Singles finals match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina on Day Fourteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts on court against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina during their Men's Singles Finals match of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on September 9, 2018. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 09: Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during his men's Singles finals match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina on Day Fourteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Novak Djokovic of Serbia pauses while playing Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina during their 2018 US Open men's singles final match on September 9, 2018 in New York. (Photo by kena betancur / AFP)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia falls to the court in celebration after his victory over Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina during their 2018 US Open men's singles final match on September 9, 2018 in New York. (Photo by Don EMMERT / AFP)

epa07009353 Novak Djokovic of Serbia (L) and Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina at the net after the men's final on the fourteenth day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA/JUSTIN LANE *** Local Caption *** 53000073

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 09: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates with his wife Jelena Djokovic after winning his men's Singles finals match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina on Day Fourteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

epa07009437 Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates with Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina after the men's final on the fourteenth day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA/JASON SZENES *** Local Caption *** 53000073

epa07009432 Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates with the championship trophy after defeating Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in the men's final on the fourteenth day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA/JASON SZENES *** Local Caption *** 53000073

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 09: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates with his box after winning his men's Singles finals match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina on Day Fourteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Julian Finney/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 09: Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the championship trophy after winning his men's Singles finals match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina on Day Fourteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates his victory over Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina during their 2018 US Open men's singles final match on September 9, 2018 in New York. (Photo by Don EMMERT / AFP)

Novak Djokovic was thrilled to match Pete Sampras with a 14th grand slam title at the US Open on Sunday, but he said it's Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal who have made him the player he is.

"Pete Sampras is one of the biggest legends ever to play the game," Djokovic said after earning a third US Open crown with a 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 victory over Juan Martin del Potro.

"He was my childhood idol. He was someone I was looking up to. The first actual thing I saw related to tennis on the TV was his first or second Wimbledon championship. That inspired me to start playing tennis.

"There is a lot of significance of me being now shoulder to shoulder in terms of grand slam wins with him."

The victory puts Djokovic three slam wins away from Nadal's 17 and six behind Federer's record 20.

It will also see him rise to third in the world rankings behind Nadal and Federer - the rankings again reflecting the "Big Three" status they have shared for so long.

Djokovic had tumbled down the rankings, slowed last year by an elbow injury and a loss of confidence that accompanied a 54-week title drought.

Since bursting out of the slump with an unexpected Wimbledon title he has gone from strength to strength, adding a long-awaited Cincinnati Masters title to his resume before adding the US Open title to those he won in 2011 and 2015.

Djokovic faced neither of his greatest rivals en route to the title in Flushing Meadows.

Seeded to face Federer in the quarter-finals, he found himself instead across the net from John Millman after the unheralded Australian stunned the Swiss great.

Nadal hobbled out of a semi-final match against Del Potro after two sets.

Djokovic would have relished taking on either - or both, although he admits that early in his career that wasn't always the case.

"Maybe 10 years ago I would say I'm not so happy to be part of this era with Nadal and Federer," he said.

"Today I really am. I feel like these guys, rivalries with these guys, matches with Federer and Nadal, have made me the player I am, have shaped me into the player I am today.

"I owe it to them."

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Comment: Novak Djokovic's tennis dynasty set to recommence with US Open triumph

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Although he was riding high coming into the Open, Djokovic was among the many struggling with crushing heat and humidity in the first week.

He needed four sets to get past 41st-ranked Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in the first round and another to get past 61st-ranked American Tennys Sandgren in the second.

He picked up the pace with straight-sets victories over France's Richard Gasquet, Portugal's Joao Sousa, Millman and 2014 finalist Kei Nishikori to arrive at a title tilt with good friend Del Potro.

After seizing an early break in the second set, Djokovic suddenly found himself on the run, dropping three straight games before he dug in to salvage a service hold in a 20-minute marathon game that went to deuce eight times.

The crowd was roaring for sentimental favourite Del Potro - shut out of grand slam finals since his 2009 US Open triumph.

Djokovic said it was the kind of heavyweight clash he's learned to embrace.

"This might sound funny, but my nickname is Nole. When they shout "Ole, ole, ole, ole," that's what I hear," he said of the raucous chants for Del Potro.

"I thought it was electrifying in some stages of the match, especially in the second set when we went toe-to-toe. I had my corner, as well.

"When the roof is closed, trust me, it's very, very loud down there. It takes a lot of effort to actually stay poised in this moment.

"I'm glad I managed to do that."