Novak Djokovic, the best student of tennis
by Princy James for Ubi Tennis
I happened to overhear Monsieur Mats Wilander, the winner of seven Grand Slams, including three French Open titles, referring to Novak Djokovic as the best student/learner of tennis, ever. That was an exceptionally lucid statement, contrary to the great GOAT conundrum.
Wilander was referring to the World No. 1’s tenacity, one of the most important facets of the latter’s personality. If evolution be the sole benchmark, then hands down, Djokovic can be regarded the best.
The 29-year-old’s 11 Grand Slam titles become a tad less idyllic when compared to Rafael Nadal’s 14 or Roger Federer’s 16 when they were of the same age as Djokovic. But it was his misfortune, not fault, that his career had to coincide with that of Federer and Nadal.
Then again, the elusive Musketeers’ Trophy further divides Djokovic from the aforementioned greats, despite besting them over time. Although an odds-on favourite for eclipsing Federer’s all-time record, Djokovic will have to wait before being bestowed with the greatest of all time tag.
Not until the noughties the GOAT debate became heated, with Federer and Nadal monopolising the game like no other. Despite dissecting the topic time and again throughout the decade, neither the fans nor the pundits have come up with a definitive solution, although a wide consensus places Federer on a higher pedestal than Nadal.
But the Swiss phenomenon’s lopsided head-to-head stats with the Spaniard offers little sense from a logical vantage point. That puts us back again on the grey zone; we are likely to linger there, until a certain Djokovic can save us by upping his tally.
Djokovic’s slow, but steady dominance has served as a coolant, putting the labyrinthine GOAT debate on hold for the time being. Like Wilander has observed, Djokovic’s evolution is commendable. His refusal to give in, his pedantry, has proved his mettle.
There is a certain reverence towards the legends on the tour, and Michael Chang, once while referring to his protege Kei Nishikori, pointed out that awe for the opponents could palliate the agony of loss, and hence becomes a stumbling block for one’s own success. That’s where Djokovic becomes an anomaly. Incidentally, same can be said about the volatile Nick Kyrgios as well.
How Djokovic has overturned his head-to-head statistics over the years, including that of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Tsonga won four of their first five encounters), explains the pace of his evolution. A good student always learns from his mistakes.
The time has come even the cynics too are forced to admit the prowess of the Serbian. He has segued from a party crasher to an iconoclast, and eventually, one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
