Novak Djokovic clarified the reason for struggling at points in his Australian Open final victory over Andy Murray on Sunday.
The top seed wrapped up his fifth title at Melbourne Park 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-0 over a mentally fragile Murray, who later conceded he did not deal well with the notion of a physically impaired opponent.
Djokovic was showing signs of soreness early in the second and third sets, but responded well in the periods after pulling up tight - including winning 12 of the final 13 games from 2-0 down in the third set.
While Murray later claimed he thought Djokovic was cramping, the eight-time major winner said he was simply feeling the effects of a brutal contest - with the first two sets lasting two hours 32 minutes alone.
"No, I wasn't cramping," Djokovic insisted.
"I didn't call a [medical] timeout because I had no reason to call it. I was just weak.
"I went through the physical crisis in the matter of 20 minutes. And, honestly, [I] didn't feel that too many times in my career.
"But knowing in the back of my mind that it was a similar situation two years ago in Australian Open final, 2013, where two sets went over two hours, [it] was a similar battle.
"Then I felt that I had some physical edge over him [Murray] in that match. That was in back of my mind. That was something that kept me going, and obviously the importance of the moment, being in finals of grand slam.
"I didn't want to give up. I try never to give up.
"Even though I went through this moment, I believed that I'm going to get that necessary strength. I'm going to have to earn it, and that's what I did.
"I started hitting the ball more, covering the court better, shortening the points, and allowed myself to come back to the match."
Djokovic said marriage and fatherhood had given him fresh motivation on the tennis court, with his wedding in July followed by the birth of Stefan in October.
"I try to stay on the right path and committed to this sport in every possible way that I have had in the last couple of years and try to use this prime time of my career really where I'm playing and feeling the best at 27," he said.
"This is why I play the sport, to win big titles and to put myself in a position to play also for the people around me.
"I know how much sacrifice they put in in my own career, and I try to thank them and not take anything for granted.
"As my life progresses, there are circumstances, situations, events that define these beautiful moments.
"Getting married and becoming a father in the last six months was definitely something that gave me a new energy, something that I never felt before."