NEW YORK — So, Novak Djokovic wins two of the year’s four Grand Slam titles. Just another year. Nothing special?
Not exactly.
What a year for the 31-year-old Serbian wonder.
DJOKOVIC NOW SERIOUSLY INVOLVED IN RACE
All of a sudden, Djokovic is seriously involved in the race for career Grand Slam titles. A little over two months ago, no one — other than maybe Novak — would have dreamed this might happen so quickly.
While it is rather questionable whether Roger Federer will increase his record total of 20 Grand Slam titles, Rafa Nadal likely will get a couple more to add to his total of 17.
But here’s Djokovic, sitting at 14 Grand Slam titles with the ability to shoot up to maybe 17 in the next 12 months.
A FOCUSED NOVAK IS ALMOST UNBEATABLE
When Djokovic is totally focused, there may not be anyone in the current game that can handle his style of play. Certainly not Juan Martin del Potro, who could only push Djokovic in Sunday’s U.S. Open final, but couldn’t take even one set off Novak in a competitive 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 romp for Djokovic past the tall Argentine.
Djokovic is a great one, for sure, but even if he surpasses Nadal and Federer in Grand Slam titles, I wouldn’t consider Novak to be in the same class as Rafa and Roger.
As for as I am concerned, Federer and Nadal are history’s best tennis players, maybe with the Rocket, Rod Laver.
DJOKOVIC IS GAME’S RUNNING CHAMPION
Novak not only is the reigning champion of the year, he is the game’s running champion. No one is in Djokovic’s league in sheer movement, agility and mobility. He’s a yo-yo, in and out, and back and forth.
That’s his game. The tennis part is just along for the ride, and not in the league of Federer, Nadal and Laver.
But Djokovic is tough. Just like Sunday when he allowed del Potro’s cannons to wipe out a 3-1 deficit in the second set, Novak wasn’t finished.
Del Potro fought for his tennis life, but it wasn’t to be. Djokovic wasn’t to be outdone. Once Novak tied the set at 4-4 by holding service in possibly the longest and most competitive game of this U.S. Open, the end was in sight for del Potro.
THE RUSH TO THE BATH ROOMS TOLD THE STORY
You could sense that the end was in sight as a good portion of the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd rushed for the exits and the nearest bath rooms. And it wasn’t even an odd game, or a change-of-sides game.
No one would bet on del Potro being able to get the job done when Novak settled his sights on the job at hand on the court.
The second set did go to a tie-breaker, but after a couple of loose errors to fall behind, 3-1, Djokovic won six of the next seven points to take a two sets to none lead.
Del Potro was doomed. Djokovic could taste Grand Slam No. 14.
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James Beck is the long-time tennis columnist for the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier newspaper. He can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com. See his Post and Courier columns at
