Djokovic happy for friend Andy

Novak Djokovic hates to lose, but the five-times Grand Slam champion was happy for his friend Andy Murray, who beat him in a pulsating, five-set struggle for the US Open title on Monday.

“Any loss is a bad loss. There is no question about it,” the Serb told reporters after his 7-6, 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 defeat that denied him back-to-back US titles. “I'm disappointed to lose the match.

“I had a great opponent today. He deserved to win this Grand Slam more than anybody, I'm sure, because over the years he's been a top player. He's been so close, lost four finals. Now he has won it, so I would like to congratulate him.

“Happy that he won it.”

In contrast to Murray's long wait, Djokovic tasted Grand Slam success at a tender age when he won the 2008 Australian Open.

He could sympathise with the Scotsman's frustrations, however, having been denied further Grand Slam glory for three years by the dominance of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

“I think in my experience it was just a matter of belief, really mentally to mature and to understand what you need to do to become a Grand Slam champion and to become the best in the world,” said Djokovic, who won three out of the four majors last year to clinch the world number one ranking before losing it to Federer after the Swiss's Wimbledon triumph in July.