A proud Novak Djokovic reflected on an "incredible season" after winning his third grand slam of the year Sunday with his U.S. Open triumph.
The world No. 1 secured the 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Swiss great Roger Federer to win his 10th career grand slam title, and third of an impressive 2015. Only the French Open crown eluded Djokovic this year, after he was beaten in the final at Roland Garros by Stan Wawrinka.
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"It's been an incredible season. I'm very fortunate to experience a great success this year," Djokovic beamed during a news conference following the match. "The season is not over, but the grand slam is over. The biggest tournaments that I have played this year, as anybody else, and I won three out of four. It's more than I could ask for, definitely.
"Of course I do have lots of expectations and high ambitions whenever I'm approaching the grand slams or any other tournament, but now actually sitting down here with this trophy and reflecting on what I have achieved, it's quite incredible."
Djokovic appeared to be in trouble during the third set, only to save two break points in the eighth game before breaking in the ninth.
He said taking the third, after coming from 15-40 down when serving for it, was the boost he needed.
"I was aware that (Federer) was going to come out with a clear game plan to pressure me," Djokovic said, "and come to the net and mix up and come second serve, come to the net, as well. ... You could feel the momentum was switching from my side to his side for, I think, all the way till the end of the third. It was anybody's game. It was really even.
"(When it was) 5-2 serving (in the fourth set), I thought, 'OK, now this is the time to finish it off,' but it wasn't. He showed once again why he's competing in such a high level for so many years.
"Again, he never stepped back, and he always made me play an extra shot, extra shot, kept pushing. Yeah, I was fortunate to come up with some big serves when I needed to. Serve was not really a strong link tonight for me, but in the important moments I got a couple of free points in the last game on serve, and that's what matters."