Young Djokovic says time is on his side

NEW YORK – Novak Djokovic blamed his inexperience for failures to cash in on opportunities against world number one Roger Federer in Sunday’s US Open final.

Djokovic squandered five set points in the opening set on his serve, and two more with Federer serving at the end of the second set. The young Serb lost both sets on tie-breaks on his way to a 7-6 7-6 6-4 defeat to the world number one.”I was just holding my serve and trying to wait for my chances, opportunities,” said third-ranked Djokovic, the first Serb to play in a grand slam men’s final.”I got them, and in the end I didn’t use them.”He knows what it feels like to be in that kind of situation.He knows how to cope with the pressure.”Federer, 26, claimed his 12th grand slam title in the victory.Djokovic, who won four titles in his breakthrough season, said time was on his side.”I’m still only 20 years old.I have a lot of time in front of me, so I’m really not worried or anything or feeling sorry,” he said.”Yes, I feel sorry about today, but doesn’t matter.We have to look in the future.Djokovic, who reached the semi-finals at the French Open and at Wimbledon, said playing in front of 23 000 people for the title at Arthur Ashe Stadium had been an amazing experience even though he had felt pressure.Nampa-ReutersThe young Serb lost both sets on tie-breaks on his way to a 7-6 7-6 6-4 defeat to the world number one.”I was just holding my serve and trying to wait for my chances, opportunities,” said third-ranked Djokovic, the first Serb to play in a grand slam men’s final.”I got them, and in the end I didn’t use them.”He knows what it feels like to be in that kind of situation.He knows how to cope with the pressure.”Federer, 26, claimed his 12th grand slam title in the victory.Djokovic, who won four titles in his breakthrough season, said time was on his side.”I’m still only 20 years old.I have a lot of time in front of me, so I’m really not worried or anything or feeling sorry,” he said.”Yes, I feel sorry about today, but doesn’t matter.We have to look in the future.Djokovic, who reached the semi-finals at the French Open and at Wimbledon, said playing in front of 23 000 people for the title at Arthur Ashe Stadium had been an amazing experience even though he had felt pressure.Nampa-Reuters