Federer also hadn’t lost a set until Sunday.

This tenth defeat though had a different texture. He was reacting to Federer’s volley wide to his right when he slipped changing direction, banging his right elbow and knee and scraping both. The bare numbers are telling.

“Clearly, he (Djokovic) can win many of them”, Federer said on the topic if Djokovic can win more slams. Djokovic 37. Djokovic 6 of 13. Instead – and make no mistake, Djokovic noticed – a vast majority were on Federer’s side, even applauding faults by Djokovic, considered poor tennis etiquette.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m dominating, but I definitely am very proud of all of the achievements”, Djokovic said. “Knowing you’re playing perhaps the best in the history of the game, that’s a bit more pressure”.

Federer entered the Arthur Ashe arena as equal favourite. There were only one or two moments during the three hours and 20 minutes of a richly entertaining final on Sunday night when he seemed keen to remind the crowd who was winning. His ultra-aggressive tactics, typified by the cleverly coined “Sneak Attack by Roger” or SABR had mesmerised the circuit.

Again and again Djokovic returned his serve and drove Federer deep into the court.

The game reach its peak in the second set as Federer, with crowd by his side, made it 1-1.

“On the contrary, I think it’s logical to expect that a great player and a champion like Roger has the majority of the support anywhere I play him”.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia lifts his champion trophy during the awarding ceremony for the men’s singles event at the 2015 US Open in New York, the United States, on September 13, 2015.

After a long rain delay, Djokovic broke the Federer serve six times and saved 19 of 23 break points as he battled his way to a 27th win in 28 Grand Slam matches this year. “I have lots of expectations and high ambitions whenever I’m approaching the Grand Slams or any other tournament but now actually sitting down here with this trophy and reflecting on what I have achieved, it’s quite incredible”. It’s an ultimate challenge that I can have now winning against Roger back to back finals in Wimbledon and here, US Open.

That is a chilling warning to the chasing pack from the 28-year old.

Djokovic is already a legend, but a few more injury-free years could see him become the world’s greatest-ever player. Rafael Nadal’s frail body has found an unwelcome companion in wretched form. Stan Wawrinka beat him in the French Open final.

“He’s having an unbelievable career”.