One match from finishing the first calendar-year men’s singles Grand Slam in 52 years, Novak Djokovic isn’t getting ahead of himself by talking about it.
“I know everybody wants to talk about history,” Djokovic said. “I’m just trying to look into what I know works for me.”
World number one Djokovic will try to complete the first calendar Slam since Rod Laver in 1969 and only the fourth ever after Laver in 1962 and Don Budge in 1938.
Australian legend Laver, 83, was in the stands to watch Djokovic continue his quest for history.
But the task remains unfinished, so talking seems premature to Djokovic.
“Why should I be happy? The job is not done,” he said. “That’s kind of the attitude I have.”
Djokovic is keeping his usual routine between matches.
“I’m focusing on recovery, calibrating all the systems, getting that vital energy,” he said.
Djokovic, who would be the oldest US Open champion since Ken Rosewall at 35 in 1970, also takes pride in honing his game to perfection.
“I know what my strengths are. I stick to them,” Djokovic said. “I’ve worked over the years to perfect my game so that my game can have literally no flaws.
“Every player has some weaknesses in his game. There’s always something you can improve. I want to have as complete of an all-around game as I possibly can so that when I’m playing someone I can adjust on any surface.
“I can come up with different styles of play. I can tactically implement the game that I need for that particular match in order to win.
“Over the years, working on perfecting the game has really helped me just be very adaptable to anybody’s game and to any surface.”