Novak Djokovic has set his sights on becoming the first male tennis player to win the "Golden Slam" this season.
Djokovic out to emulate Graf
Novak Djokovic has set his sights on becoming the first male tennis player to win the "Golden Slam" this season.
The Serbian world number one is the reigning Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open champion and only needs to add the French Open crown and the Olympics title this summer to achieve the historic feat.
"All the grand slams and Olympic Games, they are my priorities," said Djokovic, who was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year in London on Monday night.
"Obviously, Roland Garros is the one to win this year. I have to stay optimistic. I have to believe in what I do and believe in my abilities and that I can win on all surfaces.
"I think everything is possible."
Recovering
If Djokovic is to stand a chance of winning the "Golden Slam" he will have to reach the French Open final on the famous clay of Roland Garros for the first time.
But the 24-year-old has already begun 2012 in impressive style, defending his Australian Open title in an epic final against Rafael Nadal.
Their intense battle made its way into the record books as the longest grand slam final in history, lasting five hours and 53 minutes.
"It's been the most exciting match of my life," reflected Djokovic a week after his victory in Melbourne.
"We went the distance of six hours, made history.
"It's been a week and I think physically I'm recovering. At this age, there are no excuses. I have to recover."
After winning a third Australian Open title and picking up the Laureus award, Djokovic is fully focused on the challenge of winning the "Golden Slam".
German tennis star Steffi Graf secured the "Golden Slam" in the women's game in 1988 and remains the only person to achieve the feat.
Self-belief
Djokovic has risen to the top of the men's game in the last 12 months out-stripping his British rival Andy Murray, who is just one week older.
But the world number one says it is unfair to draw comparisons between the two rivals and that Murray must find his own recipe for success.
Although perhaps Murray will not continue his experiment with a gluten-free diet that Djokovic has successfully reverted to.
"I've never liked comparisons because everyone's different," said Djokovic, who defeated Murray in the 2011 Australian Open final.
"Everybody has a different path and everybody has a different structure of the body and different minds.
"For me, it was a learning process in the last couple of years.
"I'd been number three in the world for three or four years in a row and Andy Murray was number four.
"What changed for me was the mental stability, strength and experience that I got over the years playing at the top level.
"Just believing I can win the major tournaments, believing I can win against the biggest rivals at the later stages of major events."
