11 incredible facts about US Open winner Novak Djokovic

New York: Factbox on Serbia`s Novak Djokovic, who beat Swiss Roger Federer in the U.S. Open men`s final on Sunday.

1) His father was a professional skier and wanted his son to be a skier or professional soccer player but changed his mind when Djokovic excelled at tennis from an early age.

2) First full year on tour in 2005: Made grand slam debut as a qualifier at the Australian Open, losing to Russian Marat Safin in the first round. Finished as the youngest player (18 years, five months) inside the top 100.

3) In 2006, he won his first ATP tour title at Amersfoort.

4) He retired in the 2006 French Open quarter-finals against Spaniard Rafael Nadal when trailing by two sets, and again a year later due to blisters in the Wimbledon semi-final against the same opponent.

5) In 2007, he won five titles (Adelaide, Miami, Estoril, Montreal and Vienna) and reached his first grand slam final at the U.S. Open, losing to Federer 7-6 7-6 6-4.

6) Beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets to win his maiden grand slam title at the 2008 Australian Open.

7) Led Serbia to their first Davis Cup title with victory over France in Belgrade in December 2010.

8) Began 2011 by winning the Australian Open, beating Briton Andy Murray in the final, to end his three-year wait for a second grand slam title. Won his next six tournaments in Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, Belgrade, Madrid and Rome. Did not lose again until June 3 when Federer ended his 41-match winning streak in the French Open semi-finals.

9) Saved two match points to beat Federer in the semi-finals of the U.S. Open then defeated Nadal in the final to become the seventh man to win three grand slam titles in a year since tennis turned professional in 1968.

10) Began 2013 by beating Murray to become the first man in the professional era to win three successive Australian Open titles.

11) Reached all four grand slam finals in 2015. Began the year by capturing a fifth Australian Open title, then missed out on the French Open again after falling to Stan Wawrinka in the final. Five weeks later draws level with his coach Boris Becker`s Wimbledon haul of three titles by defeating Federer in the All England Club final. Beat Federer in U.S. Open final, giving him three grand slam titles in a year for a second time.