I won't court high life, despite win: Djokovic

Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic has vowed to keep his focus on the court after sealing his status as the new golden boy of tennis. His four-set success over unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Melbourne on Sunday means the 20-year-old will return to Serbia a national hero, having secured the nation’s first grand slam singles title. But Djokovic insists the lure of the celebrity lifestyle will not sidetrack

him from his charge towards the summit of the men’s game.

"This is something which comes with the success, I think," he said.

"To be popular and to be a celebrity, it is very nice. It’s very flattering when the people recognise you on the streets and come up to you saying many things and giving you respect and a lot of positive comments. You have to be proud of yourself.

"It is important to keep the balance always in life. That’s what I’m trying to learn right now because I am still young and getting into the business.

"More people pay attention to me and what I do. I have to try to keep my focus on tennis because that’s what I want to do still over the next 10, 15 years." Djokovic’s frank assessment of his future was indicative of his maturity and composure off the court. But he also recognises that when it comes to his on-court demeanour, there is more work to be done. During Sunday’s final, Djokovic was upset when the Melbourne Park

crowd were cheering for Tsonga and booed him when he took nearly a minute between serves at a crucial part of the match.

He let out a few choice words in Serbian, and admitted he lost his head.

"This is something that you have to fight against," Djokovic said. "You just try to keep your head in the match.

"The crowd was more behind him. It’s understandable. Everybody has a right to decide who they are going to cheer for.

"He’s an attractive player. He’s a young one. He was unseeded coming to the finals. Obviously, they wanted to support him."

Djokovic will find plenty of fans when he gets back to Belgrade, where he is expecting a public reception to celebrate his success.

"It’s our tradition to have a reception for such a great success. There’s always so many people filling up the streets you don’t even know the numbers," he said.