Novak Djokovic: A true tennis legend

The balance of power is a delicate thing in sport. Upset it at all when you’re on top and it can be extremely difficult trying to reassert control. Novak Djokovic knows a thing or two about that particular balancing act, and he made sure he didn’t tinker with it too much with a masterful performance in the US Open final. Putting the finishing touches on a near perfect 2015, he powered past Roger Federer, who battled gainfully throughout, to claim his second title at Flushing Meadows.

Coming out on top 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4, the superlative Serb procured one of his best performances of the last nine months to ultimately dismantle his opponent’s gameplan with precision and skill.

Although it wasn’t the icing on the cake of a calendar year Grand Slam, it certainly felt like it for the World no. 1 as he was all smiles for the cameras at the denouement of a thrilling encounter in front of a capacity crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

Through grit, determination and a healthy dose of real tennis magic, he completed a memorable win to bring his total number of Slams to a whopping 10, seven shy of equalling Federer’s historic tally.

Three out of four ain’t bad for Djoker

Legends – World No. 2 Roger Federer congratulates Novak Djokovic on his U.S. Open victory

For the second time in his career, the “Djoker” managed to complete three Major wins in a single calendar year. Incidentally, the other time he managed it was back in 2011 and it was the same three titles he won. Without question, it certainly was not the haul of silverware he would have like to take home most of all, as the Coupe des Mousquettaires evaded him on French soil, but it’s certainly nothing to be sniffed at either.

Taking his tally of Slam titles up to double digits, the impressive nature of what he has managed to accomplish since his first big win back in 2008 can often be difficult for so many to appreciate, but it should be crystal clear to the masses that he is the best player on the planet and deserves all the success he’s carving out for himself right now.

At times during the final Slam of 2015, it felt as if the 28-year-old was battling valiantly against the opposing forces of two combined foes – one was Federer, the other was the unnerving crowd.

Booming voices rang out, heckles sounded loudly and shouts of joy pierced the din on numerous occasions when the blue-clad battler went to serve, missed a crucial point or mis-hit a volley. It was eerie, and it could so easily have been off-putting. So vocal were the majority in support of the man affectionately dubbed the “Federer Express”, it would have been understandable for Djokovic to get annoyed and lose his concentration during the key phases of the match.

He didn’t and it was that resilience, paired with a very clinical nature, which saw him prevail triumphant on the night.

Completing his fourth win of the year against one of his biggest rivals, he also made sure he muscled his way onto level terms in their head-to-head record, something that could prove crucial in determining who is the best tennis player in years to come. Federer might well be the king of the game in the record books, but “Nole” could just have something to say about it all in a few years time.

US Open win massive, but failures will fuel him more

Stan the Man – Djokovic lost the French Open to Stan Wawrinka earlier in the year.

Taking the first set in the final was always going to be one of Novak’s clear aims. Against an in-form Federer, he could take little chance and he duly obliged with an ideal start. Though Fed took the next set, it was the third which looked to be the sucker punch for the Swiss star. Blown away by some scintillating serves, he wilted and looked ready for the scrapheap there and then.

Fortunately for the seemingly biased crowd, the 17-time Grand Slam winner didn’t feel in an obliging mood and if set three was the hammer blow, set four became the stage for an unlikely resurrection, framed against the black night sky. Producing some wickedly good hits – not least a venomously accurate winner from the baseline to break serve – he teased a comeback.

Despite pushing hard all the way, he simply coudn’t find the right pockets to hurt his opponent, and the Serb just looked too pumped to let it all slip away with victory in sight. In truth, that has been the story of his performances ever since losing out to Stanislas Wawrinka on the crunchy Parisian shale during the summer; playing with panache and hard work, he’s been almost demonic in his pursuit of victory ever since.

His inability to win the ultimate prize at Roland Garros, though not to be reflected on for too long in the aftermath of such a wonderful win, could well prove to be his biggest reservoir of strength in the coming months. Because if he has proven anything down through the years it’s that his passion and love for the game remain as effervescent as they have ever been and he is as entertaining and emphatic a champion as they come.

Far from a performer who likes to rest on his laurels, the jubilation of his wins will be savoured for sure, but like any truly great champion he won’t be totally and utterly satisfied until all the boxes are ticked, over and over again.

Djokovic is the man to beat – but he will need to push himself further

Watching a genius at work isn’t exactly an everyday occurence. So we’d all do well to drink in as many of Djokovic’s performances as is humanly possible right now.

Every generation has their wave of fantastic stars, but the manner in which the modern day’s Big Three have monopolised the world of tennis remains a phenomenon in itself. Whether it has been Federer, Nadal or Djokovic the rest of the sport’s budding victors have struggled to make a dent in their domination – although Andy Murray and Wawrinka have made quite a few outstanding contributions down through the years, too.

Right now, however, there can be little question that it’s Djoker who rules the roost. It’s he who has set the sport alight with the best performances of the year, and he is far and away the most effective man (or woman) in the game at present.

A cut above the rest, his incredible 2015 Slam record of 27-1 speaks for itself and proves beyond any doubt that this was most certainly his year. Unless things go drastically wrong for him in the off-season with injuries or some radically detrimental changes in his preparation or mindset, 2016 is shaping up to be yet another explosive one for him.

That said, he will be the one everyone looks to topple, because when you’re at the top, it becomes a lot easier to see the queues of hungry competitors looking to take a swipe.

He has become well adjusted to strutting the narrow passageways of history with pose and stability and his legendary status will always be safe, but he will be hoping he doesn’t lose his footing at the pinnacle of the game any time soon.