New York (AFP)
World No.1 Novak Djokovic admitted Saturday in New York to have reached a point in his career where "it is the Grand Slam titles that matter", with in view the record of 20 major titles in the men currently held by Roger Federer.
"That's always been the case, but now it's the Grand Slam titles that matter most when it comes to how I see tennis and how I approach it, because it's these tournaments that count the most. "said the Serb two days before the start of the US Open, the last Grand Slam tournament of the year where he will defend his title.
Djokovic clinched the 16th Major of his career at Wimbledon in the final against Federer. The other ogre of the circuit, the Spaniard Rafael Nadal is at 18 after his 12th success at Roland-Garros in June. The all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles is held by Australia's Margaret Court and can be matched this year at Flushing Meadows by American Serena Williams.
"I'm 32 years old so things are a little different from what they were 10 years ago, but I still feel young inside and out and I'm always very motivated," he said. added Djokovic who could theoretically meet Federer in half and Nadal in the final of the US Open.
"But at the same time, the road is still long" to the bar of 20 major titles and the record, he added.
"And it's also putting pressure on me because, you know, that's what I'm aiming for, it's definitely becoming one of my ambitions, one of my goals," he said. said.
"So, for sure, I will do everything to play my best tennis at this tournament," he concluded.
Djokovic will face in the first round the Spaniard Roberto Carballes (76th worldwide).
© 2019 AFP