USA: TENNIS - Newly-crowned U.S. Open Champion Novak Djokovic climbs the Empire State Building to show off his trophy in a winner's tradition

Record ID: 783643

  • Title: USA: TENNIS - Newly-crowned U.S. Open Champion Novak Djokovic climbs the Empire State Building to show off his trophy in a winner's tradition
  • Date: 14th September 2011
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 13, 2011) (REUTERS) 2011 U.S. OPEN CHAMPION NOVAK DJOKOVIC KISSES HIS TROPHY ON TOP OF EMPIRE STATE BUILDING TENNIS FANS WATCHING PHOTOGRAPHERS SURROUNDING DJOKOVIC AS HE KISSES TROPHY (SOUNDBITE) (English) 2011 U.S. OPEN CHAMPION NOVAK DJOKOVIC SAYING: "Yeah, it's a lot of pride. It's a lot of positive feelings. I'm filled with just...lovely, lovely memories from last night and I'm thrilled to be in this position. You know, it's been a dream year for me. I've played some fantastic tennis in the later stages of the tournament, in the semi-finals against Roger, in the final against Rafa. When I needed to come up with my best performance I did. Now, I am about to enjoy the success that I had." DJOKOVIC POSING WITH TROPHY AND AGAIN KISSES IT VARIOUS OF FANS WATCHING AND TRYING TO TAKE PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (English) 2011 U.S. OPEN CHAMPION NOVAK DJOKOVIC SAYING: "Well, I think it was a learning process for me the last couple of years when I was playing at the top of men's tennis and I was competing with the best tennis players, and playing many matches against Rafa and Roger, and most of these matches I was losing, especially in the major events where I could not find my best game and everytime I would come to the semi-finals or finals I just could not make that final step and I was failing ot perform my best, but that has changed. I think over the years, you just get the necessary experience that you know how to use on the court, and I'm a different player, I believe in my game much more than I did before." DJOKOVIC TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) 2011 U.S. OPEN CHAMPION NOVAK DJOKOVIC SAYING: "Well, you know, physically, I struggled you know, at the end of the third set. It was I think normal to expect that something like that would happen after a long year a long season and I played so many matches on the hard courts over the last month and half. I need rest more than anything right now, but i managed to hold on and I was very happy to be very able to play that well in the fourth set." VIEW SOUTH FROM EMPIRE STATE BUILDING TO LOWER MANHATTAN PAN UPWARDS OF EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAX43Y73SBDCQRNIIWYXANJ2AX
  • Story Text: Novak Djokovic capped one of tennis's greatest seasons with an awe-inspiring U.S. Open triumph on Monday (September 12) and consolidated his hold over New York with a climb to the top of the Empire State Building with his trophy on Tuesday (September 13).
    The 24-year-old Serb broke the pain barrier to beat defending champion Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-4 6-7 6-1 and claim his third grand slam title of the year, underlining that the balance of power in the men's game had well and truly shifted.
    "It's a lot of pride. It's a lot of positive feelings. I'm filled with just...lovely, lovely memories from last night and I'm thrilled to be in this position," said Djokovic, who beat Roger Federer in five-sets in the semi-finals for the second straight year to reach Monday's final against Nadal.
    "You know, it's been a dream year for me. I've played some fantastic tennis in the later stages of the tournament, in the semi-finals against Roger, in the final against Rafa. When I needed to come up with my best performance I did. Now I am about to enjoy the success that I had," he added as he took in the view from his first trip to the top of the iconic New York building.
    In claiming his third grand slam title of an amazing season, Djokovic produced an incredible display of shotmaking and courage when his body started to wilt during a classic slugfest at Flushing Meadows that lasted four hours and 10 minutes. The Serbian's lower back and his ribs were aching and his legs were starting to cramp up, but he ignored the pain and focused all his energy on the muscular Nadal, who was threatening to mount a comeback.
    "Well, you know, physically, I struggled you know, at the end of the third set. It was I think normal to expect that something like that would happen after a long year a long season and I played so many matches on the hard courts over the last month and half. I need rest more than anything right now, but I managed to hold on and I was very happy to be very able to play that well in the fourth set," Djokovic explained about the toll on his body during his incredible 64-2 run of victories this season.
    The win have been flowing thick and fast for Djokovic this year. He has won 10 titles this season, including the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, and no-one seems to know how to beat him, least of all Nadal.
    Twelve months ago, the Spaniard was on top of the world after defeating Djokovic in New York to complete his own collection of grand slam titles, but now he can only look on as his rival has replaced him as the top dog in men's tennis.
    Djokovic has usurped Nadal as the world number one and beaten him in six finals this year, including at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
    "Well, I think it was a learning process for me the last couple of years when I was playing at the top of men's tennis and I was competing with the best tennis players, and playing many matches against Rafa and Roger, and most of these matches I was losing, especially in the major events where I could not find my best game and everytime I would come to the semi-finals or finals I just could not make that final step and I was failing ot perform my best, but that has changed," the world number one said.
    "I think over the years, you just get the necessary experience that you know how to use on the court, and I'm a different player, I believe in my game much more than I did before," he added.
    Only the French Open remains missing from his trophy cabinet, but first Djokovic will return home to Belgrade to an expected rapturous reception, where he plans to help Serbia defend their Davis Cup title in as semi-final tie with Argentina.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register