A 4-peat & a flawless ending

As expected, the world No?1 reinforced his position, built moats around it and pulled up the drawbridge, with a 6-3, 6-4 pummelling of Roger Federer to win the ATP World Tour Finals last night. “So, yeah, I still believe his confidence is slightly higher than mine with the amount of success he’s had this year”. “I’m trying to cherish every moment on court where I play at this level”.

This was for real and both knew what was at stake. “Is not true that I play better because the surface is slow, no. I prefer to have little bit faster surface than a slower surface”.

The defeat by Federer on Tuesday had been his first indoors since 2012, but Djokovic responded in simply irresistible style as he despatched first Rafael Nadal and then, in the final, Federer. That’s why this year of Novak’s is awesome.

“I tried my best, I thought I played a few great tennis all week and in the final, but Novak deserves the win today like so many times this year”, said 34-year-old Federer. “For him it’s an advantage because he gets a second chance, and he’s in another final”.

“Obviously very proud for the achievements this season”.

In the history of the Open era, only Laver – quite possibly the best player to ever live – has ever won all four men’s Grand Slams in a year, way back in 1969.

Talking about the triumph, which capped off a sensational season for the Serbian, Djokovic said that this was the best year of his career so far and acknowledged the support of his team and his family.

Bob Bryan, on if he and Mike celebrated after saving five match points and beating Jamie Murray 16-14 in the match tiebreaker: “No. We were in shock”. He has absolutely dominated this season, playing in the final of all but one tournament he entered while compiling an 82-6 overall record and claiming three grand slam titles.

In a total of five games at the Finals, the Serb only lost two sets – both to Federer – when he was defeated in the aforementioned group stage 7-5, 6-2. My motivation has always been just personal, that I want to improve myself, I want to be better.

“I don’t know what the crowd support is going to be like (in Rio)”.

“At the start of the week, I was anxious as Novak looked exhausted and worn out”, said Becker who was celebrating his 48th birthday on Sunday. While McEnroe didn’t win three Slams in 1984, in all fairness, numerous top players still skipped the Australian Open.

Most of the 17,800 spectators got behind Federer, as he leveled at 3-3, but Djokovic’s second serve was too strong. The Swiss maestro has had an excellent year, capturing titles with regularity and reinventing his game by adding new attacking layers (the SABR – the Sneak Attack by Roger – was the talk of the tennis tour in autumn).

· In 1984, John McEnroe didn’t have a main rival to deal with as Borg had been gone for three years, Connors, at the age of 31, was in slow decline, and Lendl hadn’t emerged as the great player he’d turn out to be.

Federer, who withdrew before the final a year ago with a back injury, said: “It is never fun being on the non-winning side”. Federer held him off, but not for long – Djokovic broke in the third game.