Novak Djokovic credits Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray for helping elevate his tennis to at times supernatural levels, but refuses to rank himself in the sport's so-called Big Four.
Djokovic will embark on his 13th Australian Open campaign having surpassed legends Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg on the all-time grand slam leaderboard with his 11th and 12th major successes in 2016.
The Serb is chasing a record seventh Open title in Melbourne and, despite being seeded second behind Murray, remains a slight favourite to do so at his most successful slam.
At 29, Djokovic insists he's hungry as ever but admits he wouldn't be the player he is without his three greatest challengers.
"I don't think I would be as good as I am today if I did not have the competition as strong as I've had in my biggest rivalries," Djokovic revealed in his latest "Made By" film series for Jacob's Creek.
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"Federer, Nadal and Murray are players that have specifically contributed to my player growth and to the success I have achieved so far.
"The rivalries with them have always made me improve and made me get better, made me understand what I need to work on and who I need to become in order to come out on top."
Djokovic has come out on top in all three of the rivalries, shading Federer 23-22 head to head, edging Nadal 26-23 and leading Murray 25-11.
Only Federer, with 17 major titles, and Nadal and Pete Sampras, with 14 each, remain ahead of Djokovic, who last year became the first man since Laver in 1969 to hold all four grand slam titles at once.
But the insatiable Serb refuses to judge his own place in history.
"Being two behind Rafa and five behind Federer, I don't see it like that," Djokovic told AAP ahead of his Open opener against Fernando Verdasco on Tuesday.
"I'm 12 above zero and starting again."
