Novak Djokovic said Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal inspire him and intends to keep going until they do because it is all about the competition that makes each of them drive the other.
Despite many challenges (not many in the final), the world No 1 snuffed out the threat from in-form Russian Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 to reinforce his status as the king of Melbourne Park and collect his 18th Grand Slam crown.
“Roger and Rafa inspire me,” Djokovic said in the press conference after winning his 18th Major and getting within two of the other two of the Big Three.
“I think as long as they go, I’ll go. It’s a race of who plays tennis more, who wins more, I guess. That competition is why we are who we are. We drive each other, we motivate each other, push each other.”
Djokovic also said his ninth Australian Open title came after one of the toughest tournaments of his career, with a muscle-tear injury that is still “not healed” and attacks from the media and…