Is there any stopping the Novak Djokovic juggernaut?

Who can stop him?

Not counting his Dubai loss, which was by retirement, he has won all the 28 matches played this year. The most pertinent question right now is who will stop Djokovic’s run this year, and more importantly will someone be able to rise to his level and challenge him in the long run.

Heading into the clay season, Djokovic would look to build up on the precedent that he has set in the last few years. He first got a Madrid-Rome double in 2011, his breakthrough year. He then ended Nadal’s hegemonic, eight year undefeated run at Monte Carlo. More recently, he handed Nadal just his second ever defeat at the French Open. Having done that, he was the overwhelming favorite to win the title. Djokovic’s hopes came crashing when Stan Wawrinka outplayed him to clinch the Coupe des Mousquetaires. Will he next clinch the ultimate crown on clay?

Career Slam and Non-calendar Slam

Adding more colour to a career Grand Slam fetching title would be a non-calendar year slam for the Serb. Already called the ‘Djoker Slam’ (Djokovic stated that it would be his main goal for the year after his recent Australian Open triumph), he would become the first male player to achieve it if he clinches the French Open this year.

In fact, he could even extend it to a non-calendar year ‘Golden slam’, which only the Bryan Brothers have managed (men’s doubles) in all of tennis’ five events put together.

Crucial few months

In the coming months, starting with May, Djokovic will be looking to bag three of the most important titles to further establish his claim. The French Open, Olympic Gold and Cincinnati Masters are the only remaining major titles that he is yet to own. While Nadal and Federer have repeatedly denied him the elusive French Open and Cincinnati titles in the recent past, the Olympic games take place just once in four years. With a seemingly depleted opposition and his game never dipping low, he could win a title or two from these events this year.

Slam 12 and beyond

This also remains a contentious point in his list of achievements. With Federer, Nadal and Pete Sampras ahead of him, can he get to the top of the list? Assuming the Swiss and the Spaniard don’t win another slam, he would still require 7 more titles to get to the top.

Whether he can do that, only time will tell. It would amount to repeating over 60% of his Grand Slam title wins so far. He could be 28 years of age and still be at the peak of his game, but embarking on such a humongous task at this point in his career might not yield the expected results. Perhaps the zenith of his career is not very far off.

Finally, is there anyone to challenge him in the immediate future?

Going by recent memory, only the other three members of the big four club can do this.

It is also hard to imagine that one of the upcoming players could stand up to the challenge posed by the Serb in the immediate future. Thus, only a revived and rejuvenated big four and a few others could challenge him.

Irrespective of the possibility, and whether or not to stop the Djokovic juggernaut, many fans fervently hope that Federer, Nadal and Murray bounce back or at least that some of the younger guns turn more competitive.