Who will win US Open 2011? – Part Eight: Novak Djokovic
As we wrap up the series of potential 2011 US Open champions, the last instalment of this eight part series looks at the juggernaut of 2011, the unstoppable Serbian and the new recently crowned world number one, Novak “Djoker” Djokovic.
A figure in the shadows at the end of 2010, Djokovic rose to the stuff of legends when he made history in December 2010, when he led Team Serbia to win their first ever Davis Cup and that too on their debut final appearance. Winning two back-to-back matches, Djokovic failed to realize what he had set in motion – a domino effect that would ultimately lead to the culmination of his dream.
Starting the year ranked 3rd in the world, the Djoker skipped the season opening triad as he made an appearance at the exhibition event Down Under, the Hopman Cup. Winning all three rubbers there, Djoker led Serbia to the title match. With everyone doubting the Djoker’s chances at the season opening Grand Slam, the Australian Open seeing as he had not had much tournament practice on the surface, the Serb took everyone by surprise when he clinched his second Grand Slam win of his career after upsetting Roger Federer in the semis and then Andy Murray in the finals.
A pinnacle for most, the Grand Slam win was just the beginning of an almost perfect year for the unstoppable Serb. With a stopover at Dubai and a title win against Federer, Djoker entered the Masters season in full swing. Destroying Rafael Nadal in back-to-back finals, Djokovic won the titles at Indian Wells and Miami. Undefeated on hard, Djokovic came into the clay season only to suffer his only loss of the season. Losing to Federer in the semis, Djoker exited the Roland Garros. However, his grass court skills were more than perfect as he clinched his second Grand Slam win of the season. Defeating defending champion Nadal in the final, Djokovic lifted his first Wimbledon trophy and became the top ranked male professional in the ATP rankings.
Up, up and away! Djokovic was nothing short of the fictional superman on hard courts. Returning to the surface in August, the Serb competed once more in back-to-back Masters 1000 events, however, this time around he only managed a title win at Montreal before retiring out of Cincinnati's title match witha shoulder injury.
With two successful Grand Slam runs and a near-perfect hard court win loss mark for the season, Djokovic is the perfect contender for the title. Religiously staying true to the phrase, “A step further”, the Serb has pushed back all boundaries to excel this season. A finalist at Flushing Meadows last year, Djokovic is very much expected to go a step further and clinch his third Grand Slam of the season. They say seven is a magical lucky number. Having debuted in 2005, the Serb is playing in his seventh year here. Superstitiously, statistically, physically and all the other “–lys” clearly point to the fact that Djokovic is without a doubt the favourite contender for the title.
With no loss against Rafa or Murray this year and only one against Federer, Djokovic has perhaps beaten the plague once known as the mental block.
Enjoying his near superhuman form, rocking his gluten free diet and riding the lucky horse, Djokovic is perhaps well on his way for his third Grand Slam win of the season, clinching it at Flushing Meadows this fall.
Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in the article are the writer’s own personal views and have nothing to do with bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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