Filed under: Tennis, Australian Open
For a man with an Australian Open on his c.v., Novak Djokovic's admission that Sunday's Davis Cup triumph was his "number one" achievement may have come as a surprise.After all, his two biggest rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer both opted out of competing in the tournament this year.
But for a proud and patriotic Serb like Djokovic, that was unthinkable - for more than one reason.
Speaking after his country's dramatic 3-2 victory over France in Sunday's final, an emotional and newly-shaven headed Djokovic - he and his team mates were joined by Serbian Tennis Federation president Slobodan Zivojinovic, no less, in fulfilling a previous promise made within minutes of victory being secured - emphasised just how much it meant.
"It's historic," he said. "This is our biggest success as individuals, as a team, as a country. We are not even aware of what we have done.
"This is the best moment of my career and probably of my nation. This is like winning the World Cup for us.
"I would put everything behind me that I have achieved in 2010 just for this win. It is definitely the best feeling that we have experienced on a tennis court, ever."
Pretty definitive then.
For Djokovic, this one even topped Melbourne 2008.
Why? Well, firstly because this was a victory which put his recently-formed nation, who made their Davis Cup debut just five years ago, not only on the tennis map but the sporting map too.
Grand Slam singles victories, as achieved by Djokovic and female compatriots Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic are one thing.
But this was different - it required more than individual brilliance. For all Djokovic's passionate patriotism, there was another reason too though.
The growing dominance of Nadal and, less so, Federer this year forced the Serb into a rethink in his list of priorities.
Even on the occasions he had too much for one of them - as he did against Federer in the US Open semis - the other would always prove a bridge too far.
Frustratingly for the 23-year-old, in another era he would more than likely have at least four or five Grand Slams in his trophy cabinet by now.
Yet, unfortunately for him - and the same goes for Andy Murray - he is competing against two men who will more than likely be one day considered the two greatest to have played the game.
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