Australian Open 2019: Novak Djokovic sets sights on French Open title and Roger Federer’s Grand Slam record

Novak Djokovic is already looking forward to the challenge of winning the French Open this summer and holding all four of the sport’s Grand Slam titles for the second time in his career.

The world No 1’s 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Rafael Nadal here on Sunday in the Australian Open final leaves him needing to win at Roland Garros to repeat his feat of 2016.

Djokovic admitted subsequently that for years he had put too much pressure on himself trying to win the title in Paris to complete his Grand Slam collection. This time he thinks it will be different.

“I did put a lot of pressure on myself in the past,” Djokovic said here on Monday after parading with the Australian Open trophy in Melbourne’s Royal Botanical Gardens.

“I lost several finals in a row and then managed to win it in 2016. Winning the French Open in 2016 was the biggest relief I have ever felt in my entire life, so the approach to the French Open this year will obviously be quite different. I think I’m just more experienced with this kind of situation.”

Asked what he felt about the prospect of holding all four titles, Djokovic said: “I don’t want this to sound arrogant, but I’ve done it once so why not do it again? I’m just one Slam away from that.”

Djokovic now has 15 Grand Slam titles, which puts him one ahead of his boyhood idol, Pete Sampras, who held the record until Roger Federer passed him. Federer now has 20 Grand Slam titles and Nadal has 17.

Does the world No 1 have his eyes on Federer’s record? “Well, if I’m still playing and winning Slams I think it’s logical to conclude that I do,” he said. “I’m blessed to be able to win 15. I know there are two guys ahead of me now in the history of the most Slams won. But I still have time. I’m not rushing.”

Djokovic said he looked forward to Federer playing at the French Open for the first time in four years. “Roland Garros and the tennis world in general missed him on clay last year,” Djokovic said.

“He’s the greatest champion this sport has ever had so I’m definitely looking forward to having him there.”

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Djokovic said he would continue working hard to maintain his fitness in order to carry on competing for a good while yet.

“I do feel young, I do feel fresh, I do feel fit,” he said. “I don’t think about age. I don’t think about any limits. So far, so good. Of course I’ll keep on striving to get better on the court but also maintain the healthy lifestyle that brings me longevity and well-being.

“I think what’s most important is to nurture that love for the game. I think it all starts in your heart and in your mind as well. If I want to keep going I will keep going. I think my body will listen.”

Djokovic said that the prospect of making history continued to motivate him. “Playing Grand Slams and the biggest ATP events is my utmost priority in this season and in seasons to come,” he said. “How many seasons are to come? I don't know. I'm not trying to think too much in advance.

“I do want to focus myself on continuing to improve my game and maintaining the overall mental, physical, emotional and well-being that I have so I would be able to compete at such a high level for the years to come, and have a shot at eventually getting closer to Roger's record. It's still far.”

Twelve months ago Djokovic was about to have elbow surgery after struggling here in his comeback after a six-month break from the game. However, he never stopped believing that he had it in him to return to the top.

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“I always believe in myself,” he said. “I think that's probably the biggest secret of my success. For any athlete it’s all about self-belief, digging deep in the moments when you're facing adversity, visualising yourself as a winner, trying to be in a positive state of mind. It's much easier said than done obviously.

“I'm a true believer in visualisation. I do that a lot. I think that I had to do that more than ever in my life 12 months ago after the surgery because I wasn't playing well and I wasn't feeling good on the court. I was questioning everything. I was doubting whether I would be able to play everyone on this level because I didn't know to what extent the operation on my elbow would affect my game.

“It was a huge learning curve for me. The whole process was very special. I embraced the journey. I am very grateful to have gone through it. I would never change anything if I could turn back the time because things are just the way they should be.”

Between them Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have won the last nine Grand Slam tournaments, extending the older generation’s remarkable domination of the sport. While younger players like Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alex de Minaur and Frances Tiafoe made a good impression here, it seems that they still have a long way to go before they catch the old guard.

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Like Djokovic, Nadal clearly has no intention of slowing down yet. The 32-year-old Spaniard was delighted to have come through his first tournament for four months unscathed following the injuries that had dogged him since last year’s US Open.

Now Nadal believes he just needs more matches to get back to a level where he can compete with the very best again, though he said he would do nothing “crazy” with his schedule. He is due to compete next in Acapulco at the end of next month.

“My priority now is to go back home and have some rest,” Nadal said. “I know that the season is long. My first priority at all, more than winning titles, is to be happy. To be happy, I need to be healthy. I am going to do the things that give me a better chance to be healthy more than anything.”