Dominant Djokovic sets sights on Paris
In a very good way, there is something of the supernatural about
; four defeats of the world number one, Rafa Nadal, including two in eight days on European red clay, the Spaniard's favourite surface.
Some of the Serbian's play has defied logic, leaving us breathless. His comebacks reveal immense determination to protect the record, the thrashings emphasise his superiorty.
And it's not as if he's doing all this in a dud era, with mugs for rivals.
He's doing it in one of the true golden eras of men's tennis when his main rival is one of the finest players of all-time. So where does that leave Djokovic?
Conversation over last weekend centred on when the run is going to stop, and nobody now can make any informed judgement on this. Only Novak knows when his body is going to fail him because his game shows no sign of bowing to anyone.
, remains favourite in my eyes and Andy Murray is enjoying some rich clay court form to suggest a best French Open performance is possible, but it's in Djokovic's hands. If he continues his form he can win again and topple Nadal for a fifth time inside three months.
He said he was going to take four full days off after Rome and that should be more than suffiicient to relieve any exhaustion and cure any aches. It's not as if he was walking around the Foro Italico with a limp. He'll be ready to go here at Roland Garros as if the season were just beginning - a frightening thought.
There is utterly no reason why he can't mop up this summer and more than one person I know has snapped up the 100-1 odds against him remaining unbeaten in 2011, as absurd as it sounds. I don't believe he can do that. He will, I hesitantly predict, get beaten somewhere, someday, somehow. Of course he will. Won't he?
Novak Djokovic is bidding to win the French Open for the first time. Pic: Reuters.
This is the thing with Djokovic right now - just when you think the next achievement is out of sight, or plain impossible, he only goes and does it. When you talk to him, and he looks you in the eye and speaks with such confidence and belief, it's impossible not to feel inspired yourself. It certainly becomes very hard to doubt the man.
Oh for such .
Never can I remember the WTA so spectacularly playing second fiddle to the ATP at a combined event as they did in Rome. and achieved with no shortage of skill, but there was a general sense that the women's matches were support acts to the men's main events. Certainly crowds suggested as much during every round until the final.
Sharapova, free of injury and rejuvinated under , has suddenly become one of the favourites for Roland Garros; not bad for the self-proclaimed "cow on ice".
Very few others are making compelling cases for Paris silverware.
the top seed, continually fails to inspire any sort of confidence. Nice player but a class apart from the greats. and I expect her to have another fine run simply because she has the skill and won't be overawed. is playing well again, making the Rome final, is a constant threat these days and does what she does effectively and should go deep.
But these are not champions elect, I don't believe. The French Open field is wide open and, I have to say, one of the weakest in recent major history.
The two names for me are and . Thank goodness Clijsters is fit to add some sparkle. Lack of preparation is an undoubted hindrance but this is someone who came out of retirement to win her first major back. Like Djokovic, with Kim you believe anything is possible.
And Azarenka, the personable Belarussian, is ready to step up and claim a debut major. But will she be fit enough? In Rome she injured her racket arm and retired against Sharapova, a cruel blow to her Paris chances which were looking so strong after winning in Madrid. But I gather her recovery has gone well and she's striking the ball with customary vigour again.
"I don't care if I lose," she said earlier in the year in Miami with refreshing candour. She said a period of loneliness in her life had made her realise how grateful she was. It took away much of the stress and it's this attitude which could carry her to a debut major. If the arm holds up, she could lift the trophy.
A talking point for tennisheads surrounds the which are used at all the clay-court warm-up events.
Other than for commercial reasons, this switch makes no sense. The warm-ups changed themselves to fall in line with Roland Garros only for the major to change to a first-time Slam provider. Reports from the practice courts suggest they are flying quicker than their predecessors. It is the only topic in town in the locker rooms, apparently.
And at least everyone knows , in order to create facilities more worthy of the 21st century.
This has angered the more forward-thinking locals, who feel they've missed a once in a lifetime chance to create a purpose-built new complex, but as the stroll from Porte D'Auteil takes you down the brilliant Avenue and through the gates of Roland Garros, the greeting of red-stained shoes and tree-lined boulevards can't fail to revive memories and offer hope for another fantastic fortnight.
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Comment number 1.
At 20th May 2011, SFS1972BITS wrote:Novak Djokovic's run this season has been nothing short of breathtaking! French Open, however, is the next higher level for him to achieve. Novak, as good as he has been over the years and has 11 wins against Rafa to date, has never defeated Rafa in a best three out of five tennis match, much less on clay. I have a sense that French Open and Wimbledon may hold a surprise. I would really like to see Rafa draw equal with another all time great - Bjorn Borg by winning French Open and Wimbledon. Nevertheless, for the sake of scintillating tennis, I wish Rafa, Novak, Roger and Andy Murray the very best for Roland Garros and Wimbledon ... may the best tennis player emerge victorious at each major this year!
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Comment number 2.
At 21st May 2011, JL wrote:Absolutely agree.Being Serb myself I obviously suport Novak 100% but in the same time as a fan of tennis I wish all those guys to play great-Let the best guys wins!
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Comment number 3.
At 21st May 2011, Caludrup wrote:I'm not sure if the entire WTA field is weaker, I think there's way more depth than there used to be (the fact that top players do fall to lower ranked players is testament to that), but there's certainly no stand outs, no-one with 5% extra like Serena always has. And there's no 15 year olds breaking through anymore, the breakthrough players are in their early twenties now, thats because the other girls are physically stronger - I don't think weakness is the right descriptor here.
On the men's side I'm looking forward to a Novak-Del Potro third round, hopefully JMDP - who had that classic against Fed a couple of years ago - will hold it together and we'll see the first big test of Novak's streak at RG.
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Comment number 4.
At 21st May 2011, Caludrup wrote:Oh, and yeah, Rolland Garros definately has to modernise, the site just isn't up to Grand Slam scratch, it's prime location won't save it forever, and the discussion is getting boring. Versailles and Disneyland (yes, really) were interesting propositions, although undoubtably staying put at Rolland Garros has the hearts of the people, however that's not an excuse for endless dithering and inaction.
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Comment number 5.
At 21st May 2011, ian turner wrote:azerenaka didnt win in madrid. she won miami. she lost int he final of madrid !
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Comment number 6.
At 21st May 2011, James_Band wrote:I still think Nadal will win, I don't know why but that guy just doesn't lose in France. I've seen his style of play and the reason he's so dominant is his defensive ability; guys just don't know how to break him down. Del Potro v Djokovic will be good that's for sure, but I don't think DP has regained full fitness yet. :/ That said, if Djokovic beats Nadal in France, I'd take my hat off to him; that'd be such a massive confidence booster. But it won't happen...
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Comment number 7.
At 21st May 2011, Harperobics wrote:Great blog as always Jonathan. I'm tipping Djokovic to win the French and maybe come unstuck at Wimbledon, he must have such self-belief right now especially on the big points and he's going to need it against Nadal and the fact he'll make him hit so many balls. Wherever the streak ends though, it's still ridiculously impressive.
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Comment number 8.
At 21st May 2011, Fruitcake wrote:Djokovic's run will come to an end at the FO ... best of 5 is a whole different ballgame to best of 3 .... I believe Nadal will equal Borg's record... much as I wish it were otherwise (still being a devotee of Borg and a Fed fan!).
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Comment number 9.
At 22nd May 2011, United We Stand wrote:Come On Fed.. Wake Up and Beat the Djoker!
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Comment number 10.
At 22nd May 2011, TopTennisTraining wrote:Djokovic is having a great run but why has he suddenly become the best player on the planet?
I have my own opinions as why he is able to dominate so easily even on clay.
His techniques are analysed in full detail at and there is some very good analysis there but some players i know on tour are talking about him doping
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Comment number 11.
At 23rd May 2011, Rick wrote:Really looking forward to the French Open. Though Nadal and Djokovic will be big favourites for the mens draw, it is exciting to watch everyone else try to rise to the challenge of beating them.
Depending on the fitness of Del Potro, Djokovic could be made to work hard from as early as the 3rd round.
Hope Federer regains form as well, would love to see him beat Nadal in the Final, really would be such a great occasion. Soderling and Berdych could potentially spring a surprise or two as well.
Similarly Almagro and Ferrer will be a big danger for everyone.
However you have to say Murray is the only player who prior to the French Open looks as though he could stand a solid outside chance of winning. Two 3 set epics against Nadal and Djokovic, he has rediscovered form and a Nadal Vs Murray S/F would be big.
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Comment number 12.
At 23rd May 2011, Teddy wrote:@Jonathon Overend "Only Novak knows when his body is going to fail him because his game shows no sign of bowing to anyone."
A strapped knee and an unbelievable amount of tennis may prove too much for Djokovic, though he may as you suggest, prove naysayers wrong. Problem with winning all the time is you play more and rest less. Nadal in 2009 eventually came a cropper after getting to every clay court final pre-Roland Garros and winning the Australian Open.
Quite astonishing what Djoko's done, and now he's so in the groove, and so used to winning, he has suddenly taken on Nadal's air of invincibility. He's become the player everyone thought he could be after winning the Australian in 2008 when he had that cocksure air, "I'm going to be no.1, I'm going to beat Federer, and show the world what I can do..." but then for whatever reasons he regressed back to a would-be in the shadow of Nadal and Fed. Until now...
He does have a potentially tough draw and it'll be interesting to see how he fares against DelPotro, possible opponent in 3rd round, and Bellucci or Gasquet, potential fourth round opponents, with Berdych possibly in the QF. Right now, you'd say none of them could trouble him enough to cause an upset, but can they each trouble him enough to leave him sapped and vulnerable by the SF/ Final? Enough for Federer or Soderling or whoever awaits to take him out?
I have a feeling upsets await. The obvious prediction is a Djoko and Nadal final but Nadal's new vulnerability means not even the King of Clay seems like a sure thing. Murray for one should give him a run for his money in the semis and WHAT a draw Murray's been gifted. No guarantees, but it really looks like a cakewalk.
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Comment number 13.
At 23rd May 2011, Sean wrote:I agree that Nadal is the favorite, but this author has convinced me that djokavic will still remain unbeaten and DEFEAT nadal on the clay:
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Comment number 14.
At 23rd May 2011, meninwhitecoats wrote:Good for tennis that the duopoly of Federer and Nadal has been broken, although these two and Djokovic are still streets ahead of the rest.
Djokovic is amazingly energetic and can out run even Nadal at present - his style can look slightly ungainly for a tennis purist and Federer fan but there is no doubting his effectiveness.
Should be a good tournament can't see past a Nadal/Djokovic final but will savour the semi final more if Federer gets through.
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Comment number 15.
At 23rd May 2011, Mikey wrote:Good article. It's a shame you don't do all the 91Èȱ¬'s tennis correspondence, because this article by Kheredine Idessane (and as a Scot i feel bad ripping into him) is really bad journalism.
As i understand it, knowing fine well going into the tournament that Murray was seeded 4th, it was impossible for him to draw Rafa before the semis. The first few paragraphs are a waste of space on my computer screen.
And he says 'if the seeding committee know their stuff'.... why would they need a seeding committee to know their stuff if it's purely based on ATP rankings? If they can count they're fine.
Poor
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Comment number 16.
At 23rd May 2011, Mikey wrote:...I mean as a FELLOW Scot I feel bad!
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Comment number 17.
At 27th May 2011, DrCajetanCoelho wrote:Wishing tennis stars and lovers of tennis a thrill-filled Grand Slam in Paris.
Dr. Cajetan Coelho
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