Djokovic missed out on the calendar slam at the final hurdle but declared himself ‘the happiest man alive’ after his defeatSomething was wrong. The machine was malfunctioning. The power was blinking on and off. Routine backhands were dropping into the net. Forehands were flying long. On Amazon, which was hosting UK television coverage of the US Open men’s final, users were already beginning to voice their disapproval in the reviews. “Awful quality,” noted one. “Glitches throughout, not good enough service.” “Very disappointing quality coverage.” They weren’t talking about Novak Djokovic, but they might as well have been.Of course, over the years we have all glimpsed Djokovic in various states of disrepair, and most of the time we think we know...
An improvement in his serve and mixing up his game at vital times leaves no real weaknesses to be exploitedAs the fourth set of Sunday’s Wimbledon final hung in the balance for whoever had the courage to take it, Matteo Berrettini made his move while leading 3-2, 15-30 on Novak Djokovic’s serve. He struck an exquisite down-the-line backhand slice, then unloaded on an inside-out forehand into the other corner. The crowd gasped, anticipating the end of the point. But somehow Djokovic chased down both shots. Then he reached Berrettini’s subsequent drop shot, slotting an angled forehand past the Italian at the net.It was the type of point that has defined Djokovic for so long – the movement, the flexibility and...
The Serb seized all the key moments to claim a 20th grand slam and now looks to be putting his former rivals in the shadeMoments after Novak Djokovic captured his sixth Wimbledon title, with an enthralling and high-class victory over the Italian gunslinger Matteo Berrettini, he patted the grass like an old friend before chewing on a single blade. It has become a familiar ritual. But, for the first time on Centre Court, the Serb was heralded with shouts once reserved for his great rival Roger Federer.“Novak, you’re the Goat!” several of his fans cried. And while bald statistics show that Djokovic has now claimed 20 grand slams, taking him level with Federer and Rafael Nadal, he is surely now...
The Swiss posted a long statement on social media welcoming his great rival to the 20-title club shortly after the finalIn his astonishing straight-sets bludgeoning of Novak Djokovic on Sunday, Rafael Nadal unlocked many surreal achievements. He now owns 13 Roland Garros titles, 15 years after his first outing.Nadal is the first man in history to win six grand slam titles over the age of 30, a level of longevity that must taste so sweet after years of hearing his game was too physical to last. His 100-2 win-loss record at the event simply does not make any sense. Still, the subject was about Nadal joining Roger Federer on 20 major titles. Related: Rafael Nadal demolishes Novak Djokovic to win...
The world No 1 has previous for poor behaviour and judgment, and both were in evidence on Sunday as he threw away the chance to win an 18th majorFor most of his career, Novak Djokovic has been chasing a shadow. And how close he was to catching the ageless king, Roger Federer. How desperate he was to wear his crown. How shattered he now is after an evening of madness at Flushing Meadows.When the world No 1 took a spare ball from his pocket after being broken against the run of play near the end of the first set in his fourth-round match with the Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta, and sent it spinning innocently towards the back of the court,...