Djokovic’s adidas Barricades win Australian Open
Originally published on: 28/01/13 00:00
Andy Murray may have failed in his bid to become the first man to follow up his maiden Grand Slam with a second at successive majors, but Novak Djokovic made history of his own on Sunday when he claimed a third successive Australian Open crown.
The world No. 1 rallied from a set down to claim a 6-7(2) 7-6(3) 6-3 6-2 victory to get his hands on the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup for a fourth time.
Djokovic may have been kitted out in UNIQLO clothing, but it was his trusty adidas Barricade shoes that took a battering as he covered every inch of the court, chasing down drop shots and performing his signature splits to reach the irretrievable.
Lightweight for speed but with stability claws for rapid changes of direction, Djokovic’s footwear kept up with him as he got his racket on what should have been sure-fire winners from Murray.
At one stage, the Serb threw himself full length to get his racket on the ball, leaping back off the court to retrieve Murray’s drive volley before winning the point with a crafty drop shot.
But there is no rest for the wicked. After a gruelling fortnight in Melbourne, Djokovic returned to Europe in the early hours of Monday morning to prepare for Serbia’s Davis Cup tie against Belgium this weekend.
”Priority for me now is to enjoy this victory,” Djokovic said. “In life, you know, you don't get many of the opportunities to win Grand Slams. As a tennis player, that's a pinnacle of the ambitions and of the success. _ь
“So I try to enjoy it for few days with the people I love the most; family, friends, and team. _ьAnd then after I turn to the rest of the season. It's Davis Cup already coming up, indoors, clay courts, next weekend, so that's going to be a lot of fun.”
Djokovic, who has made no secret of his desire to land a career Grand Slam at the French Open – the only major title to elude him, believes victory at Melbourne Park will set him up for the season.
“Every tournament, especially the major tournaments, is very special,” he added. “So every win, of course also adding to that the history part, you know, winning it three in a row, it's incredible. It's very thrilling. I'm full of joy right now. _ьIt's going to give me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season, that's for sure.
“Of course, I want to go all the way in French Open. I went to the finals last year and had a great match against Rafa, but he's always the favorite on that surface and he's the ultimate player to beat on clay. _ьBut I think if I continue on playing well, stay healthy, I can have a chance.”
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