The 21-year-old Serbian started the year with his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and ended it with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Russian Nikolay Davydenko to close within 10 ranking points of world number two Roger Federer.

"Certainly I believe that I have the quality to reach the top spot in the upcoming year or next couple of years, [maybe] 10 years," he said.

"That is my lifetime goal that I've been always trying to achieve. But I have learned a lesson. If I pay too much attention to rankings, it doesn't go the right way."

Photographs: Getty Images | Text: Reuters