Serb says 'in life, everything happens for a reason'
Monday 6 June 2016 21:23, UK
World No 1 Novak Djokovic insists the calendar Grand Slam is 'achievable' after he captured his first French Open at the 12th time of asking on Sunday.
His 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-4 success over Andy Murray allowed him to claim his 12th major title and join Don Budge, in 1938, and Rod Laver, in 1962 and 1969, as the only players to simultaneously possess the French Open, Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon trophies.
He will now attempt to become only the third man to sweep a calendar Grand Slam and the first since Laver in 1969, with victory at the All England Club his next achievable target before the final major of the year at Flushing Meadows in New York.
"Well, I don't want to sound arrogant, but I really think everything is achievable in life," said the Serb.
"You know, winning this trophy today gave me so much happiness and fulfilment. I'm trying to grasp and I'm trying to cherish, obviously, these moments right now. Whether or not I can reach a calendar slam, that's still a possibility."
The last player to even have the chance of a calendar Grand Slam at this stage of the season was America's Jim Courier, who won the Australian Open and French Open back-to-back in 1992.
But he failed while even the likes of Djokovic's biggest contemporary rivals, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal have never yet even held all four majors at the same time, even though they have completed career Grand Slams.
Djokovic's 12 majors - six in Australia, three at Wimbledon, two at the US Open and now one in Paris - have taken him to within five of Federer's record of 17, while he is just two off the 14 held by Nadal and Pete Sampras.
"It's incredibly flattering to know that Rod Laver is the last one that managed to do it (the calendar Slam). It's one of the ultimate challenges that you have as a tennis player," added Djokovic, who endured a nervous conclusion to Sunday's final.
Djokovic won the first of his majors at the Australian Open in 2008 but had to wait another three years before claiming his second.
In that time, Federer and Nadal carved up 10 of the 11 Slams between them.
"At the beginning, I was not glad to be part of their era. Later on, I realised that in life, everything happens for a reason," he said.
"You're put in this position with a purpose, a purpose to learn and to grow and to evolve. Fortunately for me I realised that I need to get stronger and that I need to accept the fact that I'm competing with these two tremendous champions."
Meanwhile, Roland Garros favourite Gustavo Kuerten claims that what Djokovic has been achieving on the court was 'scary' and believes he is still improving.
"He's getting even close to Roger (Federer)," said Kuerten. "In a year or two, we're gonna see him with a real chance of getting the number of slams (that Federer has) and he is able to get better every single year."
Can Novak Djokovic complete a calendar Grand Slam? Tweet us your thoughts @SkySportsTennis or let us know your views by filling out the comment box below by signing in with Facebook.
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