Novak Djokovic, 20, Has Beaten the Best
MORE
The Observatory
Roger Federer might be the greatest all-around player ever, and his rival Rafael Nadal might be the best of all time on clay.
Novak Djokovic, a 20-year-old Serbian, is ready to make the case—a more convincing one than we’ve seen in years—that there’s room for three players at the top.
Since winning a tournament in Miami, reaching the semis at both the French and Wimbledon, and, this month, winning in Montreal, he has landed at No. 3 in the ATP rankings and now has a realistic shot at pushing his way into the finals at the U.S. Open.
The tennis world has noticed. He’s featured in this month’s Vogue, with a photo spread and the seal of approval of John McEnroe, who says he’ll be better than American golden boy Andy Roddick.
It’s easy to see why Djokovic would transition well into the mainstream: He’s funny, articulate, cocky and distinctive-looking. (After winning matches, Djokovic adheres to a recently forgotten tennis tradition by tearing his shirt off with carefree abandon, revealing a skinny body to go with his striking Sonic-the-Hedge-Hog haircut.)
When you watch him play tennis, it can be a mystery as to why he’s so good. His postgame stats often don’t say much. He won’t have many more winners than unforced errors; the percentage of points he wins off his first serve is unremarkable. His serve, his forehand and his backhand are all perfectly acceptable shots, but there’s no Federer forehand, no Sampras serve.
And yet, time after time this year, he’s pulled it all together.
He did it in Montreal when he knocked off Roddick, Nadal and Federer to take the Rogers Cup. It was the first time anyone has ever beaten Nadal and Federer back-to-back in a tournament.
In the process, he showed that he’s good enough to beat these guys at their own game. Against Nadal, for example, he won by playing astonishingly good defense, battling and saving eight break points to lead to a straight-sets victory.
Against Federer, the win was even more striking. Federer has lost only five tiebreaks this year and three have come at the hands of Djokovic, twice in that match (by a lopsided combined score of 14-4).
His strategy was obvious but effective. Djokovic constantly assaulted Federer’s backhand, and wasn’t baited by the seductive backhand spin shot that the 11-time Grand Slam winner uses to set up passing winners all the time. Every time Djokovic saw it, he pulled back and restarted the rally, the way a good point guard restarts offensive sets in basketball.
Perhaps one public indication of Djokovic’s legitimacy as a tennis-great-in-the-making is that the unfailingly chivalrous Federer is starting to make a habit of taking public jabs at him. Federer said in an interview with ESPN before the final in Montreal that the first time they played, he “wasn’t that much impressed” with the Serbian. After Djokovic’s shocking triumph in Montreal, Federer called the match “insignificant.”
Djokovic, though, wasn’t having it.
“That’s my lifetime goal,” he said at a press conference after beating Federer. “To be the No. 1 player in the world.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
yeah right, leave it to the martians...everybody knows he's 1-4 head to head against the world no.1. Federer's just had a bad day in montreal that's all!
US Open will stage new era in man tennis game. I know that Fed is going to give best of what he can to offer in this moment, and in same time I am sure that it will not be good enough to score a win over Djoko. Djoko lost last game against Moya, but if you watched carefully, his mind was not there. Djoko has bigger fish to fry at US Open. Fed title from last tournament is more psychological lift than any other thing. It was just question of time when some of younger players will accelerate and dethrone. Fed fees it, jus look at his facial expression after lost in Rogers final.
I can’t wait to watch their coming clash!
Djokovic is:
Next Tennis KING!and will rule his generation for many years to come!He is perfect kid:good maners!great sence of humer,good looks,...evrything we need for an Idol to younger generation!
GO Novak!!!
Djokovic is:
Next Tennis KING!and will rule his generation for many years to come!He is perfect kid:good maners!great sence of humer,good looks,...evrything we need for an Idol to younger generation!
GO Novak!!!
novak djokovic is the best. he is going to win in NYC.
I don`t think that Federer had a bad day at Montreal final.He played good, but Novak was better.Novak will be next no1.Federer didn`t have results like Novak when he was that age.
Let's go Nole...
SRBI SU UZ TEBE...
NAJBOLJI SI!!!!!!
I'm so glad my country finally has legitimate representatives in the world... It was about time for everyone to see what Serbian people are really like.
Novak's a perfect example of a young Serbian, same goes for both Ana & Jelena!
Keep it up guys.
Djokovic will be number 1 before its over, but he's going to have to learn to bring it every match. Carlos Moya destroyed him in cincinnati. It looked like Djokovic just didn't want to be there. Thats something you never see from Federer or Nadal. With more consistency, he'll be the best.
bravo Nole, nisam ksenofobik ili yunostalgicar ili tako neko smaranje, ali svakom postenom coveku je drago da vidi da mlad covek,narocito tako poseban kao Novak, uspe u onome sto radi najbolje!
Bravo Nole, ne da si igrac nego si i covek sto si dokazao kad je spiker pogresio zemlju iz koje potices.
ej dacho hoces da pijemo kafu - pivo kod mene pre partya veceras?
ako stignem ne znam kako se ide, dal cu ja kolima il sa nekim.
ok.cucemo se
Federer had a bad day???????????????????
Maby Nadal had a bad day too???????????
Novak is only 20 year old and he won Nadal and Federer.
Thad wasn't a good or bad day. That was good playing. Something that Federer didn't have when he was 20 years old.
Djokovic is next KING and he has something that Federer newer had.
He is modest, he respects other players and he is polite. Those are some things beside good playing that makes good sportsman.
Napred Nole!!!!!!!!!!
Federer is the past, Novak is the future!
So what if he has better score, he is older isnt?
Go Novak, world is your!
Samo hrabro Nole!!!
SRBIJA!!!
hey dacho gde ima festa
Djole you got to show to the world it was not just a luck, and I know it that you will do good, and message for Roger Federer Do not be jerk but when you lose the game still be proud and recpectfull towards other players and the whole world, the way you handle yours losses is no way to be any persons idol may be just some other sickos in the head
Bad day, good day!
Ok, if someone wants to picture something using words bad days, I can help:
Novak made Roddick, and Nadal and Federer had their bad days all in three consecutive days! And more: Nole is going to make them have and more of bad days.
Good enough?
Ђоко, с вером у Бога!
Једино тако ћеш бити ПРВИ. Волим да те видим када се крстиш са ТРИ прста на стадиону.
Нека је Бог уз тебе.
Амин.
Novak doesn't have to be at number one position to be considered the best. It is not all about tennis it is the sportsmanship and the personality which he has in abundance. His tennis is more than good and all together he is kind of guy who can bring popularity to courts more than any other player. Let's be honest, average tennis fan wants more than snoozers from the baseline, record chasing robots who are patted on the shoulder so many times that are coming to the cort with ridiculous outfits and golden stars, silly dresses etc, tennis "greats" who declare that they can beat alone an opposite team in a Davis Cup (obviously, I'm talking Federer here before the match with Serbia, his only contribution for the Swiss team). This one and many other "stars", and "divas" would not bother to play matches that don't bring big bucks. They always have an excuse of an injury or a divorce or else. So Djokovic definately stands out in a good way, in every way.
I like to watch Roger Federer, but my new favorite is Novak, the raising star in tennis. I would say, he is going to be a new king of tennis if he continues like this. I think Federer is a bit irritated cause of media attention is turning now to Djokovic.
NOLE,KRALJINO,NAJBOLJI SI. VOLIM TE PUNO I VERUJEM U TEBE! JEDVA CEKAM SUTRA DA IGRAS PROTIV FEDERERA I DA POKAZES KO JE NAJBOLJI TENISER NA SVETU! PUNO SRECE I DA SE NE PREDAJES! ZNAS DA SI NAJBOLJI I TO NI 100 FEDERERA NE MOZE DA PROMENI! VOLIM TE NAJVISE NA SVETU! MWA! WTP! MWA,MWA,MWA,MWA,MWA,MWA,MWA,MWA,MWA,MWA...
Evryone who thinks that Novak Djokovic is not going to be nuber one tennis player in the world are crazyyyyy!!! Did you watch the way he plays that guy he plays with heart, he is same on the court and of court fame did not get best of him. He is real, and he is determined he has great family to support him and the whole country of Serbia. Did you see the way Serbs celebrated his wins in Belgrade tell me what other tennis player gets that kind of tretment. We all love him and support him. And I believe he is aware of that... he does his best on the court and no one can ask more than that. WE THE SERBS ARE PROUD OF NOLE!!! wins or loses never mind...
Novak Djokovic is still young, but already No.3. Definetly his time is coming. I am glad that there are so many fans of that nice person and funny to watch tennis player.