Thousands give Djokovic hero's welcome

Belgrade: Some 100,000 Serbian tennis fans gave Novak Djokovic a royal reception in central Belgrade on Monday after the 24-year-old arrived home to celebrate winning his first Wimbledon title.

Djokovic, who leapt to the top of the ATP rankings in the process, was greeted by a deafening roar as he arrived in an open-top bus which took hours to reach the Serbian parliament square from the airport.

Traffic on the main motorway ground to a halt as fans got out of their cars to salute Serbia's most popular athlete, whose entire family paraded alongside him on a giant stage where rock bands entertained the crowd.

"This is absolutely unbelievable and I owe all of you eternal gratitude for this reception," an elated Djokovic said as he held aloft the trophy he won with an emphatic four-set win over Spaniard Rafa Nadal in Sunday's final.

"The time has come to bare all my emotions to you and all I can say is that you are the best in the world because only Serbian fans can throw a party like this.

"You have made the happiest day of my life even better and I dedicate this trophy to you," said Djokovic, who will lead Davis Cup holders Serbia in their quarter-final tie away to Sweden next weekend.

"We have a soul that is second to none and with the team event coming up, I can promise you we will do everything in our power to win it all again," he added.

Djokovic and his two younger brothers then joined rock, pop and folk bands on stage in singing local chartbusters, as fans lit flares and waved Serbian flags.

Some of them produced banners taunting Nadal, who relinquished the world number one spot to his fierce rival.

"Are you watching this from Madrid, Rafa, and keep practising that backhand of yours," said one of them.

The frenzy culminated when Djokovic and his family engaged in a traditional Serbian folk dance as fireworks lit the skies above Belgrade on a warm evening.

"Young people are here in droves because they look up to this extraordinary young man and draw inspiration from his accomplishments," said former Davis Cup coach Radmilo Armenulic.

"He is a role model and a true champion, finding the strength and willpower in his family and close friends, which is the best way to keep your life on the rails.”

"As for his game, I am in no position to give him any advice because he is so superior on the court," said Armenulic.

Former handball international Igor Butulija added: "As a former top-level athlete I know how much more difficult it is to reach the top as an individual, hence Djokovic's triumph must stand as the most remarkable achievement in Serbia's history."

Djokovic downs Nadal for maiden Wimbledon title

London: When Novak Djokovic realized he was the Wimbledon champion, he fell to the ground and covered the grass like a blanket.

It was a fitting celebration for a man whose court coverage was the biggest reason he was able to defeat defending champion Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 in Sunday's final.

Djokovic, who was already guaranteed to take over the No. 1 ranking from the Spaniard on Monday, won his first Wimbledon title and extended his mastery over Nadal this season with a fifth straight head-to-head victory.

After shaking hands with Nadal at the net, Djokovic walked back out on court and crouched down. He pulled a blade or two of grass out of the manicured lawn and put it in his mouth.

"It's really hard to describe this with any words except the best day of my life, most special day of my life," said Djokovic, who tossed three of his rackets into the crowd before accepting the championship trophy. "This is my favorite tournament, the tournament I always dreamed of winning. The first tennis tournament I ever watched in my life."

Djokovic assured himself of the top ranking just by reaching the final. He opened the season with 41 straight wins, including the Australian Open title, but his 43-match winning streak came to an end against Roger Federer in the French Open semifinals.

The victory over Nadal improved Djokovic's record in 2011 to 48-1, with five of the wins coming against the Spaniard in finals - two on hard courts, two on clay and now one on grass. Sunday's win was the first grass-court title of his career.

"He played better than me," said Nadal, the 2008 and '10 Wimbledon champion. "For that reason, he is the champion here."

Serbian President Boris Tadic was in the Royal Box along with several former champions to watch the match on Centre Court, and when Nadal sent a backhand long on match point, Djokovic turned to face them and dropped to the turf, lying on his back with his arms spread wide.

"When you're playing the best player in the world, Rafael Nadal, who has won two out of the last three Wimbledons, and he's always been winning the big matches against me in the Grand Slams, I had to be on the top of my game. I had to play my best and I think I played, really, probably my best match on the grass courts ever," Djokovic said. "I want to congratulate him again for having a great tournament."

During the match, it was Djokovic's incredible movement and precise shot placement that gave him the first two sets. His play dipped in the third, but it returned in the fourth to secure him a third Grand Slam title.

Nadal had won 20 straight matches at the All England Club. The 10-time Grand Slam champion missed the 2009 tournament because of injury, but was playing in his fifth Wimbledon final in six years.

Nadal injured his left foot in a fourth-round win, but painkilling injections helped him roll through the next two rounds and into the final.

"Seriously, I lose because I am playing against the best player of the moment, the best player of the world tomorrow, and I am the second," Nadal said. "And when you play against these players and they are playing unbelievable, the normal thing is (to) lose."

Djokovic consistently landed shots while taking advantage of any slight miscue from Nadal. The first and biggest of the opening set came in the final game, when Djokovic hit a forehand winner down the line.

Nadal followed that with a pair of unforced errors, and the second-seeded Serb won the set on the first break point of the match.

Djokovic dominated the second set, breaking Nadal twice while holding serve easily. It wasn't until the second game of the third set that Nadal finally managed to do something with Djokovic's serve, breaking for a 2-0 lead when the Serb dumped a backhand into the net.

Nadal broke again and eventually won the set, and the two traded service breaks early in the fourth. But after Djokovic held to 4-3 in the final set with four straight points, Nadal double-faulted for the first time. He lost the next two points and soon was broken again when he sent a backhand long.

"He's doing great. He's doing a few things fantastic," Nadal said. "But I had to play better to win, and I didn't today. I played little bit less aggressive."

The loss to Djokovic on Sunday was Nadal's first in a major final to a player other than Federer.

"When I won in 2008 for the first time, the emotions was very high so I can imagine how (Novak feels) today," said Nadal, who lost to Federer in the 2006 and '07 finals. "It's a special day and another time I congratulate him."

Tomic is an ‘incredible talent,’ says Djokovic

London: World number two Novak Djokovic has hailed Bernard Tomic and described him as am ‘incredible talent’.

Tomic has been the one of the most impressive players at the Wimbledon. He is the first player to have confirmed his place in the quarterfinals, a daily reports.

“I am looking forward to the next challenge. It is going to be a tough match because Bernard is an incredible talent with incredible potential,” Djokovic was quoted as saying.

Tomic will face Djokovic in the quarterfinals. Second seed Djokovic, is the most successful male player this season with 47 wins from 48 matches.

“He is showing it now. He is going to be a top player. He is beating some good players already, so I`m looking forward to playing him,” he added.

The 18-year-old Tomic cruised into the last eight of the Wimbledon with a breathtaking 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 win over world No. 42 Xavier Malisse.

Only Boris Becker, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg have made the last eight at a younger age than Tomic’s.

Earlier, Former tennis star Boris Becker and Wimbledon hero Roger Federer had praised Tomic and tipped him as a star in the making.