Novak Djokovic comes of age

23 wins in a row says it all, and even if he doesn’t win the ATP Miami Masters 1000 tonight Novak Djokovic has sent out a message to all his rivals – he’s finally ready to conquer.

Djokovic has made a blistering start to the tennis season, but funnily it has, by today’s media-hype standards, been under the radar.

His Australian Open triumph in January was to most tennis pundits unexpected. Despite Djokovic’s talents it was Rafael Nadal, aiming to claim his fourth Grand Slam in a row, who was most favoured. Roger Federer too was looked on as a potential winner, the 2011 Aussie Open meant to be his sixth and confirmation of his greatness. And oh yes, the great underachiever and darling of the British media, Andy Murray… this was his time to win a first major title and give the world a taste of things to come.

Maybe that’s why Djokovic’s win, his second at the Australian Open, was without much fanfare. He quietly breezed through the rounds before bursting into the limelight with a stunning semi-final win over Federer – stunning because of its relative ease and the sense that, for possibly the first time at a Grand Slam, Djokovic knew it was his time.

The final against Murray was a formality.

Now three months down the line Djokovic is set for his own piece of history.

It’s about time.

Still only 23 the Serbian has the best ahead of him. Although it must be said that modern tennis is so rigorous that at 28 one is beginning to be an elder statesman, Djokovic is finally producing the potential he showed when he burst onto the scene in 2007 – potential that saw him become the youngest player in the open era to reach the semi-finals of all four Grand Slam events and the youngest to defeat the world’s top three players in succession at the same event.

By the end of 2008 Djokovic, at 21, had added the ATP Masters Cup to a maiden Grand Slam win – the 2008 Australian Open – and five Masters Series events.

But he tapered off, the pressure and misfortunate of being stuck in the same era as two of the greatest ever, Federer and Nadal, perhaps getting the better of him. Some faults were his own. Focus was lost. Perhaps Djokovic was also trying too much to be liked.

Maybe that was excusable. Federer is a wonderful champion and the perfect gentleman – the example for all sportsmen. Nadal has a legion of adoring fans, mostly female, and as Federer’s aggressive young challenger, ala John McEnroe to Bjorn Borg, he was bound to gain admiration.

During the 2007 US Open tournament Djokovic possibly trying to be “cool” did on-court impressions of other players including Nadal, Andy Roddick and even Maria Sharapova.

But the Djokovic of 2011 is clearly comfortable in his own skin and is a man on a mission. The turning point was undoubtedly Serbia’s Davis Cup win in December, where Djokovic led his country to one of tennis’ Holy Grails, beating France in the final. It gave Djokovic huge confidence and brought the taste of success that had painfully eluded him in the 11 Grand Slam events he played since winning the 2008 Australian Open.

Now he is looking like the complete package.

He is fast, strong, agile, gifted and most importantly viciously cool in the head.

Thank goodness, for Djokovic is the only player on tour that can compete on a regular basis with the incredible winner that is Nadal.

There are a couple of reasons for this.

Firstly Djokovic’s backhand is very solid and doesn’t breakdown often which is one of the prerequisites when facing Nadal, who loves to pepper and dominate his opponents with his heavy topspin forehand hit at a right-hander’s backhand side. Nadal has in the past dominated Federer almost singularly in this way, definitely at the French Open.

On his game Djokovic also has a variety second only to Federer and Murray, including drop-shots and volleys while he can outhit and outlast, on both wings, from the baseline as well. His serve and return of serve are one of the best in the men’s game.

These elements have all come to the fore this year.

Unfortunately Federer’s improvements to his game to combat Nadal have come as his physical capabilities decline.  Federer has improved his backhand and fitness, but age is always an athlete’s worst enemy, at 29 he is slowly losing his edge.

Of course outright domination is hard to see for Djokovic, it’s almost impossible. Even with his impressive start to the year, the third best in history after John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl, it doesn’t necessarily mean 2011 will be his year.

Nadal is an amazing competitor, possibly the best in all of sport – yes including Sir Alex Ferguson – and while Federer’s powers may be waning, he is still Federer – the greatest player to ever hold a racquet.

Injuries are also a question mark for Djokovic. He has already had his knee and shoulder heavily strapped this season. Like Nadal, who has suffered niggling injuries at a young age, Djokovic’s physical style of game and the punishing schedule in professional tennis do not bode well for his longevity.

Still, it is often said in sport most battles are won in the head, and the new Djokovic is proving to be an iceman.

There are lots of players on the tennis tour with amazing talent and quality. But in a lonely sport such as tennis the head is even more important. Martin Del Potro is a ferocious hitter and is often said to be “the only player Nadal fears”. Still, Del Potro has his moments of mental meltdown. Murray, arguably the most talented player of this new generation, has a shocking temperament, while Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Fernando Verdasco, Gael Monfils – just to name a few – just don’t seem have the heart needed to consistently compete at the pinnacle of tennis.

Djokovic at the moment is showing he has it – hopefully for him the best is still to come.

Djokovic’s titles

2011 

Australian Open

ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indians Wells

Dubai

2010 

Beijing, Dubai

2009 

ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Paris 

Basel, Beijing, Belgrade, Dubai

2008

Australian Open

Tennis Masters Cup, 

ATP Masters Series Rome, ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, ATP Masters Series Canada

2007

ATP Masters Series Canada, ATP Masters Series Miami

Vienna, Estoril, Adelaide

2006 

Metz, Amersfoort