Djokovic revels in ‘tremendous’ end to 2012
Originally published on: 13/11/12 00:00
Champion at the Australian Open, not to mention a finalist at Roland Garros and the US Open and winner of three Masters 1000 events during 2012, Djokovic polished off another incredible year with a high-quality 7-6 7-5 triumph over Roger Federer in two hours and 14 minutes.
“It's tremendous,” said Djokovic. “It's very satisfying for my team and myself to conclude this fantastic season with a World Tour Finals win. I never got to the finals of this tournament in London. The furthest I got is semi-finals a couple years ago where I lost straight sets to Roger.
“I wasn't really feeling this surface very well, you know, in past couple of years. Always coming in very tired, not managing to play my game. But this year has been different. I got motivated, got a little bit more physically fresh. You know, I wanted really to fight and I really wanted to get as far as I can in this tournament.
“Winning all the matches I played makes it even more special.”
Djokovic, who set an all-time men’s record for prize money during his astonishing 2011 campaign by pocketing over $12.5 million, ended his week at The O2 $1,760,000 better off as an undefeated champion, taking his 2012 earnings to $9,953,737. The Serb has won 75 matches to just 12 defeats this season, adding titles in Melbourne, Miami, Toronto, Beijing, Shanghai and now London to up his career tally to 34.
“I didn't really know how I [would] follow up after [an] incredible 2011, but I believed that I have to use the time where I'm playing the best tennis of my life and I'm winning Grand Slams, finally realise what I need to do to win the major tournaments,” said Djokovic.
“This was my time, my moment, and I needed to step in and really believe in my ability. So throughout the whole season I've had lots of success and had some disappointing losses at big events, in a couple major finals. But, you know, all in all, it was a fantastic year.”
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