Novak Djokovic Raises Career Prize Winnings to $48 Million

Written by: Staff on 28th January 2013

Novak Djokovic Raises Career Prize Winnings to $48 Million

epa03557754 Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a forehand while falling to the court during the men's final against Andy Murray of Great Britain at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 27 January 2013. EPA/Mast Irham |

Revenge is a financially rewarding business at the Australian Open as Novak Djokovic claimed the biggest prize in his tennis career $Aus 2.43 million ($US 2.53m) by turning the tables on Andy Murray and extend the world no.1’s career earnings from prize money to a colossal $US 48.21 million.

Djokovic might have lost the US Open final to Murray because the Scot proved himself physically more durable in the fifth set but this wasn’t the case as the Serb became the first man in the Open era to win the Australian three times in succession and take his collection of Grand Slam titles to

Victory took three hours and 39 minutes and after more than 20 games without a break of serve Djokovic won 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 with Murray hobbling because of a large blister underneath his left big toe. “I didn’t expect an easy match,” said the champion who has now won the title four times and received the trophy from another quadruple winner, Andre Agassi.

“You never get a Grand Slam trophy in an easy way. You have to earn it. All our matches in last three years have been decided in a very few points, so it’s really hard to say if I’ve done anything different.”

The Serb underlined his ruthless streak by admitting he upped his aggression when he saw Murray was physically struggling and insisted he saw the need to make the game more attritional in the concluding two sets. “I knew that it was going to be physically very demanding, a lot of long rallies, so I needed to hang in there,” he said.

“I tried to be more aggressive. So I went for my shots, especially in the third and fourth sets. I came to the net quite often. I needed to be the one who dictated the play, and I’m really glad that I played my best.”

Now Djokovic faces the task of modifying his game to demands of indoor tennis on a slow indoor clay court as he will lead Serbia in the Davis Cup World Group against Belgium in the inhospitable surroundings of Charleroi.

Djokovic sat out the entirety of last year’s Davis Cup campaign and last represented his country in the semi-final defeat at Belgrade against Argentina in September 2011 when he was forced to retire against Juan Martin Del Potro following the rigors of winning the US Open just a week previously.

“It’s Davis Cup already coming up,” he confirmed. “Indoors on clay courts next weekend so that’s going to be a lot of fun to see how I can adjust to clay court in indoor conditions, playing away in the Davis Cup. It is always tricky.”

Thereafter there is one enormous goal for Djokovic; completing his full set of Grand Slam titles by winning the French Open at Roland Garros in June. “Of course, I want to go all the way in French Open,” he insisted. “I went to the finals last year and had a great match against Rafa, but he’s always the favorite on that surface and he’s the ultimate player to beat on clay. But if I continue playing well and stay healthy, I can have a chance.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Sports, Tennis News, tennis prize money