Novak Djokovic eyeing ‘clean sweep’ of all Grand Slam titles

Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic is eyeing a clean sweep of Grand Slam titles with the French Open scheduled to take place after five months.

“The way I’m playing right now, I think I have a game that is good enough to win titles on all surfaces,” The Telegraph quoted Djovokic, as saying at a photocall at Melbourne’s Carlton Gardens.

“I have proven that, even last year, winning back-to-back Madrid and Rome [on clay] " it was an incredible effort and gives me a lot of confidence and self-belief coming to the clay courts now,” he added.

Djokovic’s comments came after he routed Spanish ace Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 in the longest Australian Open final to clinch his fifth Grand Slam title.

The bookmakers have quoted Djokovic at just 10-1 to win all four Grand Slams in 2012 — an achievement that would be all the more extraordinary given that this is an Olympic year.

Djovokic said he is capable of achieving the rare feat of a clean sweep.

 “It is the ultimate challenge to win all four Grand Slams. One player has done it [Rod Laver in 1962 and 1969], so it is possible. Obviously the times are different. Tennis nowadays is much more competitive and much more physical and that makes that challenge more difficult to achieve,” he said.

"But everything is possible. I need to go slowly and really take one tournament at a time but Grand Slams are my biggest priority — including the Olympics" and I will try to aim my form for those tournaments,” he added.