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Djokovic juggernaut set to roll again
LONDON: Having finally rid himself of his French Open curse, Novak Djokovic is chasing a third successive Wimbledon title to move one step closer to the first calendar
LONDON: Having finally rid himself of his French Open curse, Novak Djokovic is chasing a third successive Wimbledon title to move one step closer to the first calendar Grand Slam in 47 years.
The 29-year-old world number one, champion at Wimbledon in 2011, 2014 and 2015, has become the unstoppable Slam machine.
His victory over Andy Murray in Paris gave him a 12th major, t aking him t o within t wo of Rafael Nadal’s mark and five behind the record 17 of Roger Federer.
But Nadal is missing from this year’s Wimbledon, nursing a wrist injury, while seven-time All England Club champion Federer is without a major in four years and a shadow of the player he once was.
World number two Murray, the Wimbledon champion in 2013, remains Djokovic’s only serious rival but the British star has a 10-24 career record against the Serb.
Djokovic has won 13 of their last 15 meetings and hasn’t been defeated by Murray at a Slam since the Wimbledon final three years ago. Djokovic currently holds all four majors and is targeting becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar Grand Slam, a feat only achieved three times in the sport’s history.
“I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I really think everything is achievable in life,” said Djokovic, who appears to be under little pressure heading into Wimbledon where he starts Monday against Britain’s world number 177, James Ward.
PEAK OF HIS CAREER
“Obviously I’m at the peak of my career at the moment. I see still lots of room for improvement, things that I can work on,” Djokovic said.
“That’s something that encourages me. That’s something that keeps me grounded in a way, gives me more reason to practise.
“I can certainly say I’ve been working hard to get consistency on all kinds of surfaces.”
Asked how it would feel to face a player of his calibre, Djokovic reflected the thoughts of the majority of the men’s tour when he laughed: “Well, I don’t want to go on the other side! ( of the net).”
Djokovic’s spirits are so high after finally ending his long wait to win at Roland Garros that he insists the pressure of his history bid won’t be a problem.
“Pressure is part of what we do. It’s inevitable to face this kind of sensation as a top player,” he said. “But the more you get to face this kind of pressure and emotions, the better you are in coping with it and handling it.”
