Djokovic gutted

Djokovic squandered five set points in the opening set on his serve, and two more with Federer serving at the end of the second set.

The young Serb lost both sets on tie-breaks on his way to a 7-6 7-6 6-4 defeat to the world number one.

"I was just holding my serve and trying to wait for my chances, opportunities," said world number three Djokovic, the first Serb to play in a grand slam men's final.

"I got them, and in the end I didn't use them. He knows what it feels like to be in that kind of situation. He knows how to cope with the pressure."

Federer, 26, claimed his 12th grand slam title with the victory. Djokovic, who won four titles in his breakthrough season, said time was on his side.

"I'm still only 20 years old," he added. "I have a lot of time in front of me, so I'm really not worried or anything or feeling sorry. Yes, I feel sorry about today, but it doesn't matter. We have to look in the future.

"For me, this is something new, a new situation. I have to look positive. Next time I hope I'm going to hold that trophy."

Djokovic, who reached the semi-finals at the French Open and at Wimbledon, said playing in front of 23,000 people for the title at Arthur Ashe Stadium had been an amazing experience even though he had felt pressure.

"You play against a player who is mentally the strongest player in the world. And I knew that I have to be in control in the way I have to be aggressive and patient," he added.

The Serb had no excuses for unravelling when he served at 6-5, 40-love in the first set.

"I was rushing a lot. I didn't calm down," he added. "I think one of the reasons, one of the biggest reasons for me being mentally weaker in important moments and for me rushing in important moments was that pressure.

"I was quite nervous. I knew I had to make some shots. I just needed to calm down and wait for my chances, which I didn't.

"Time is very valuable and time is experience. He has much more experience than I have. You know, the bottom line is that he's five, six years older than me."

"I have to look in a positive way. This has been one of the best tournaments ever for me, one of the most amazing experiences."