Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, who defeated Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro by 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 on Sunday to win his third US Open title and 14th career major equalled his icon and American Legend Pete Sampras on all-time grand slam winners list. However, he has refused to compare his recent success of back-to-back Wimbledon and US Open titles to his past victories.

The Serb, who jumped to 3rd in ATP World Rankings after his US Open success while speaking to ESPN played down comparisons of his recent success to his past victories. He said, “I know people always like to compare any top player’s game or performance with some previous season where he was dominating and they’ve done that with me. In the media, they always ask, ‘What percentage are you playing now compared to what you played in 2015?’ But I believe in the mindset that you can only embrace this present moment and I don’t want to compare myself with the player and the person I was two or three years ago because my life turned upside down.

I became a parent twice, was six months off the tour, and had surgery - all these different things. I changed the racket, had to adjust certain things to the newly-occurring situation and that’s why I feel like I’m a new player and the highest level that I’ve played on in the last two or three years.” Wimbledon 2018 Men’s Singles Final: Novak Djokovic Beats Kevin Anderson to Win 4th Wimbledon, 13th Overall Grand Slam Titles.

There has been a lot of debate on whether the former World No. 1 can reach the heights of the incredible dominance he showed several years ago and it remains to be seen whether he can achieve this success. Djokovic can return to the top of ATP rankings at the end of the year if he continues his fine form at this rate. Novak Djokovic Wins US Open 2018 Men's Final Title, Claims 14th Grand Slam Title, Equals Pete Sampras' Tally.

Djokovic is just the third male player of all time to hold all four major titles at the same time after Don Budge and Rod Laver, the most recent of which was 47 years ago after he won the French Open back in 2016.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 11, 2018 11:53 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).