[Some time after the French Open, 2015]
Federer fans have a lot to thank Novak Djokovic for.
Think about it. Roger has 17 slams. In 2011, the only man preventing Nadal from usurping his throne (distressingly fast as well) was Novak, when he convincingly beat Rafa in multiple slam finals.
This year's French was no different. You may argue that Nadal was doomed to lose in 2015 but say that convincingly with his nine French cups in front of you. It took a man of assured faith in his own abilities to flay the Spanish beast, and that was what Novak did.
But Federer fans also need to make a gracious hat tip to Stan Wawrinka too.
It was Wawrinka who stopped Nadal from winning the 2014 Australian Open (when no one believed it was possible) thereby stopping him from getting to his 14th slam before the French Open.
And it was Wawrinka again who bludgeoned Djokovic's resolve. He denied the Serb's quest for a career Grand Slam and dented his credentials in becoming another pretender to the crown of the GOAT. Novak may win the next two slams (I don't think that's happening) but that's not the same kind of history that he was building a day before today.
All in all I think what we need to appreciate is that this is not the outcome of luck. It is a fact often underestimated when we weigh Rod Laver's achievements and, I would argue, Roger Federer's place in the history of tennis. Winning slams consistently is no mean feat. It means going through seven five set matches battling the other top stars but also driven athletes who are good to beat you on their day. Even Roger Federer feels that more now, when he finds himself ousted on off-days.
No. This is not about luck. It's about greatness. Look back at the records of Federer, at his consistency and you may no longer find them prosaic. It's worth a gasp. And a shudder.
Novak will fight for some more years but once again Stan has changed the future of tennis' history.
Thanks, Stan.
[The previous post in this series]
Federer fans have a lot to thank Novak Djokovic for.
Think about it. Roger has 17 slams. In 2011, the only man preventing Nadal from usurping his throne (distressingly fast as well) was Novak, when he convincingly beat Rafa in multiple slam finals.
This year's French was no different. You may argue that Nadal was doomed to lose in 2015 but say that convincingly with his nine French cups in front of you. It took a man of assured faith in his own abilities to flay the Spanish beast, and that was what Novak did.
But Federer fans also need to make a gracious hat tip to Stan Wawrinka too.
It was Wawrinka who stopped Nadal from winning the 2014 Australian Open (when no one believed it was possible) thereby stopping him from getting to his 14th slam before the French Open.
And it was Wawrinka again who bludgeoned Djokovic's resolve. He denied the Serb's quest for a career Grand Slam and dented his credentials in becoming another pretender to the crown of the GOAT. Novak may win the next two slams (I don't think that's happening) but that's not the same kind of history that he was building a day before today.
All in all I think what we need to appreciate is that this is not the outcome of luck. It is a fact often underestimated when we weigh Rod Laver's achievements and, I would argue, Roger Federer's place in the history of tennis. Winning slams consistently is no mean feat. It means going through seven five set matches battling the other top stars but also driven athletes who are good to beat you on their day. Even Roger Federer feels that more now, when he finds himself ousted on off-days.
No. This is not about luck. It's about greatness. Look back at the records of Federer, at his consistency and you may no longer find them prosaic. It's worth a gasp. And a shudder.
Novak will fight for some more years but once again Stan has changed the future of tennis' history.
Thanks, Stan.
[The previous post in this series]
