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Novak Djokovic said Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal inspire him and intends to keep going until they do because it is all about the competition that makes each of them drive the other.

Despite many challenges (not many in the final), the world No 1 snuffed out the threat from in-form Russian Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 to reinforce his status as the king of Melbourne Park and collect his 18th Grand Slam crown.

“Roger and Rafa inspire me,” Djokovic said in the press conference after winning his 18th Major and getting within two of the other two of the Big Three.

“I think as long as they go, I’ll go. It’s a race of who plays tennis more, who wins more, I guess. That competition is why we are who we are. We drive each other, we motivate each other, push each other.”

Djokovic also said his ninth Australian Open title came after one of the toughest tournaments of his career, with a muscle-tear injury that is still “not healed” and attacks from the media and public.

But there were numerous hurdles to jump, not least having to quarantine for 14 days and the negative reaction to a letter he wrote to Tennis Australia pre-tournament which was interpreted as a “petulant and selfish” list of demands.

“I think emotionally it was one of the hardest tournaments that I’ve ever had, to be honest,” the Serbian top seed told Australia’s Channel Nine on Sunday.

“We had quarantine and a lot of things happening in the media, then the letter that I wrote as ideas and recommendations that I got for players was misinterpreted as a list of demands. Then the next thing I was persona non grata here in this country.

“So it was tough dealing with all of this and then getting injured in the third round,” he added of the abdominal tear that almost forced him to pull out.

“It was a rollercoaster ride... I think it makes it even sweeter for me and a lot of positives from this tournament without a doubt.”

His coach Goran Ivanisevic said the criticisms Djokovic had to deal were unfair.

“Actually he needed this victory so badly. There is somebody upstairs who see all this unfairness with a lot of media and people they doing to him,” he said.

“He tried to help the players,” he added of the contentious letter. “Again, it’s only him. It’s his fault, like everybody else attacking him. Nobody else to attack, so let’s attack Novak.”

‘Great ability to heal’

Djokovic sustained his injury during his third-round clash against Taylor Fritz.

After refusing to reveal the nature of the injury during the tournament, he said on Sunday it was an abdominal muscle tear.

“It’s a muscle tear... I went for an MRI and it showed a tear,” he said. “I understand people question whether there was a tear – but there is. For me it was obviously a huge obstacle and challenge.

“I guess we’re all different. I have maybe a great ability to heal. I don’t know. I just manage somehow with pills and painkillers and stuff.”

The nine-time Australian Open champion revealed he spent 10 out of 14 waking hours on the physio’s table at one stage for treatment.

“It’s not healed up. I’m going to go for another MRI tomorrow before I travel. I’m definitely going to take some time off. I don’t know how long it’s going to take,” he said.

“But you know my whole energy and focus was here in Australia. If there was a tournament where I want to risk any more damage, and try my hardest to battle, it’s here, it’s a Grand Slam.”

In the press conference, when asked what he did to get fit for the matches, Djokovic said there is a documentary to come out about his life on tour at the end of the year and there will be more in that about the processes behind getting him match fit. He added that some of the criticism that came his way was unfair.

Djokovic’s win over Medvedev strengthened his hold on world No 1 where he will mark his 311th week when the new rankings come out on Monday, surpassing Federer’s record of 310.

“I managed to achieve this historic number one. It seems unreal but of course I am very, very happy and proud of that,” he said, adding that he has not committed to any tournaments so far after Australia.

“My focus now is the Slams, that’s where I want to shine. I know age is just a number but we have to also see things realistically, I am not 22 any more.

“So I’m going to have to deal with the schedule and the calendar in a different way so I peak at the right time at the Slams.”

(With AFP inputs)