MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic said he is honored and proud after equaling Roy Emerson's record for the most Australian Open titles, though he has no plans to slow down.
Djokovic won his sixth Australian Open with a 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (3) win over Andy Murray in Sunday's final at Rod Laver Arena.
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The straight-sets win also saw Djokovic win his 11th Grand Slam title, helping him match Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg in fifth on the all-time list.
Djokovic admitted the record was a motivation heading to Melbourne Park.
"It's a great honor. I don't take anything for granted, even though I won last four out of five Grand Slams, played five finals out of five Grand Slams last that I played.
"It's phenomenal. I'm very proud of it, as is my team. We worked very hard to be in this position, and we should enjoy it. We should cherish every moment that we get to experience now because these are the tournaments that we all value, that we all want to play well in.
"No doubt that I'm playing the best tennis of my life in the last 15 months. Everything is going well privately, as well. I became a father and husband, have a family, so I feel like I'm at the point in my life where everything is working in harmony.
"I'll try to keep it that way."
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Djokovic beat world No. 2 Murray and 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer en route to the title. He also crushed Rafael Nadal in a tournament in Doha before the Australian Open.
Many believe Djokovic has separated himself from his three main rivals, but he insisted: "I don't want to allow myself to be in that frame of mind. Because if I do, the person becomes too arrogant and thinks that he's a higher being or better than everybody else. You can get a big slap from karma very soon. I don't want that.
"I try to still follow the same kind of lifestyle and routine, things that I've been doing all these years that have been helping me to get to where I am. I know being humble and being discreetly — still of course satisfied and proud of what you've achieved, but discreetly doing that.
"Of course staying respectful to all my opponents and my colleagues and to this sport is a key to continue on and maintain this level of success and performance. I hope. This is kind of approach to help me to get to where I am. I don't want to step away from it."