Novak Djokovic has turned the long-distance race to finish as the best tennis player in history, a pulse he maintains with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal with whom he tied 20 Grand Slams on Sunday at Wimbledon, in a sprint. Since the Swiss (he turns 40 in August) raised his last big in Australia 2018, the Serbian (34) has won eight, for four the Spanish (35) and one the now missing in action Dominic Thiem. Nole puts the pedal to the metal.
While he leaves the daisy of whether he goes to the annoying (due to the restrictions for superprofessional athletes) Tokyo Games, Djokovic is clear: “I consider that I am the best and I believe that I am the best, otherwise I would not have come this far and I would not be talking about making history or winning Grand Slams”. “But I prefer to leave that debate to others, because it is very difficult to compare the times of tennis. The conditions are absolutely different from those of 50 years ago,” he said after winning his third consecutive Challenge Cup and sixth of his career.
After receiving a review from Rafa Nadal in the final of Roland Garros 2020 (6-0, 6-2 and 7-5), who left the fight at 20-20-17, the cannibal from Belgrade has managed to overcome to link wins in Australia, Roland Garros (with victory over the 13-time champion in the semifinals) and Wimbledon.
What lies ahead for the Serbian who has already warned that he is not going to stop? For example, the goal of completing the Grand Slam (the big four in one year) that only Rod Laver has achieved in the Open Era, in 1969 (then only on two surfaces, dirt and grass). Or even the Golden Slam (with the Olympic gold).
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But the Serbian, fond of devouring records, also has in sight the goal of tiebreaker with Rafa Nadal in number of Masters 1,000 (36) with a favorable calendar for the fast track until the end of the year. I would also have a shot match Federer in number of Masters (ATP Finals), as he is one of six behind the Swiss. OR finish the season for the seventh time as number one, milestone in which he is tied with Pete Sampras. They are incentives that are presented to you between now and the end of the year. Although what he most wants is to wear at the top of the Grand Slams table with 21. Fight that will be settled at the US Open in New York (August 30-September 12), with Nadal already on the field.
Sampras, who achieved 14 Grand Slams, hallucinates with the race of the Holy Trinity. “If someone had told me that in less than 20 years three guys were going to beat me, I wouldn't have believed it.. I'm in awe and they can be at that level for much longer, ”Pistol Pete said in the New York Times. Ojiplático. Like everyone.