Novak Djokovic has revealed that he indirectly linked up with Roger Federer as he learned how to challenge for Grand Slams.

When Djokovic lifted his first major at the 2008 Australian Open, Federer already boasted double digits.

Now, Djokovic has reached 24, surpassing Federer's 20, but he has hailed the Swiss icon's importance in his development.

"Not everyone is cut out to compete at the top, and that’s normal. But there are ways. Federer helped me a lot in that regard, not directly but indirectly," Djokovic told the (Ne)uspjeh Prvaka podcast.

"I observed how he planned his schedule. He helped me understand how to manage my form, when to take a break, even if I didn’t want to. I also made mistakes. I didn’t take a break when I should have, but most of the time, I made the right decisions."