Tennis's power era: Novak Djokovic and his forerunners- Part I
Around two weeks ago, the Serbian tennis star, Novak Djokovic made his way into his second United States Open final after getting the better of Swiss tennis maestro, Roger Federer in an epic semi final clash that went the full distance. This was a marathon
victory for the young Djokovic against a player, who was regarded by many to be the prime favourite to capture the trophy.
This is a good chance to compare Novak to the big Russian contender, Marat Safin, who dominated in the previous era that highlighted Roger as the alpha male.
Both Novak and Marat excelled above all on the hard surface and have similar attacking, counter-punching baseline styles. Their skinny physiques are alike, and both of them are from Eastern European countries. In fact, Serbia and Russia also have powerful
diplomatic ties with each other.
A contrast between these two contenders will also lead to a comparison of the respective periods in which they contested.
According to some of the experts, Novak is the superior of the two.
This opinion is supported by the fact that Novak has already captured more trophies at a younger age (seventeen to Marat's fifteen), has received more prize money, and will perhaps also exceed or at least level Marat’s two major titles in the coming years.
Novak currently has a single major title to his credit, won at the hard court Australian Open tennis tournament back in 2008. The Serbian is still just twenty-three years of age.
The Serb is also playing and capturing these trophies in a powerful era, with strong, powerful baseliners wreaking havoc on the men’s side, and the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal dominating the tour.
One of those "big names" is Tomas Berdych, who concluded Roger’s incredible final appearance at Wimbledon. Another is the Swedish tennis player, Robin Soderling, who has also recorded victories over Federer, Rafael and Djokovic.
Yet another is the strong Juan Martin Del Potro, who has a variety of victories over Roger and Rafael and whose power game is regarded by many as the future of the game of tennis.
The twenty-nine year old Roger is still displaying his extraordinary brand of sublime, effortless tennis. Only those of limited knowledge of the tennis world call his aptitude diminished in contrast to his seasons of flamboyant dominance from 2004 to 2007.
Novak got the better of him in three significant clashes in the past two seasons, when Roger’s game was not much different than in 2005, the season he lost to Safin in the semi finals at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne.
These victories by the Serbian came in the semi final of the Aussie back in 2008, in the title battle of Roger’s hometown championship in Basel, and at the semi final round of the year’s final major, the United States Open competition in New York.
Novak has six total victories over Roger, including a Masters event win over him back in 2007 in Montreal, when the latter was said to be at his best.
At the United States Open in the latter rounds of 2005 edition, Roger lost the second set at the hands of Andre Agassi, who was 35 at that time and had contested in three back-to-back five setters leading up to the breakdown with the Swiss maestro. The opening
set had gone to Roger.
Andre was also up a break at one stage in the third set, and a lucky net chord off his forehand assisted Roger set up a comfortable backhand winner to break back.
By then, the much older American had collapsed from all the hours he had logged in the tournament. Had Agassi won the third, the momentum along with the confidence may have carried the American through.
Can one say Roger was playing better in that clash and at that point of his career, than the above-mentioned showdowns to Novak?
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