Two titles in two weeks in China, including the Shanghai Masters, show there’s no slowing down for the world No 1 Novak Djokovic, who has climbed above the competition this year and keeps rising higher.

Record points and prize money and three of the four Grand Slams, plus an aura of surreal calm, make it one of tennis’s best ever seasons.

This year only an inspired Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final denied him a calendar-year Grand Slam, and he has nine titles already with the Paris Masters and World Tour Finals still to come.

With only five defeats and 73 wins this year, the 10-time major-winner hasn’t lost a set since the US Open final and has convincingly beaten Federer, Nadal and Andy Murray along the way.

“It’s the best year of my life. No question about it. Everything is working great. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be able to play this well, to be successful,” he said in Shanghai.

“I don’t want to get carried away by success obviously because I want to be playing on this level for many more years to come.”

Djokovic has become only the third man, after Federer and Rod Laver, to reach all four Grand Slam finals in the same year and on current form, he has no consistent rivals to slow him down.

His points tally of 16,785, nearly double that of second-placed Murray, is a tour record, as is his prize money which is set to top $16 million.

“Every time I step on the court, knowing I’ve had an amazing record this season and also in these tournaments in the previous years makes me play my best and makes me come out on the court with less doubts in my mind, I would say,” Djokovic said.