Image credit- The New York Times
As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Federer and Nadal each had 20 Grand Slam titles to their names, while Djokovic had 20 as well. By reaching this milestone, Djokovic has solidified his status as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Djokovic’s primary objective is to accomplish a career Grand Slam, encompassing triumph in all four esteemed tournaments in men’s singles tennis—the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open—at least once. According to my understanding, Djokovic has already emerged victorious in each of these illustrious Grand Slam competitions at least once; however, he is yet to secure a coveted French Open title.
Given Djokovic’s incredible skill, consistency, and determination, he can accomplish both of these remarkable goals. However, it’s important to note that the world of tennis is highly competitive and unpredictable, with many talented players vying for these prestigious titles. Djokovic’s journey to surpass Federer and Nadal in Grand Slam titles and secure a French Open victory will require continued hard work, perseverance, and good fortune on the court.
Additionally, Djokovic is chasing the elusive calendar Grand Slam. The Grand Slam consists of winning all four major tennis tournaments in a single calendar year: the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
This remarkable achievement has been accomplished by only two individuals during the Open Era of tennis: Rod Laver in 1969 and Steffi Graf in 1988. Both players demonstrated unparalleled skill and dominance in their respective seasons, solidifying their places in tennis history. Likewise, Graf’s achievement, often referred to as the “Golden Slam,” included winning all four major tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in the same year. These extraordinary accomplishments highlight the extraordinary talent, dedication, and determination of these two tennis legends. If Djokovic were to achieve the calendar Grand Slam, he would join this exclusive club and cement his status as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
In the next round, Djokovic will face either Tomas Martin Etcheverry or Stan Wawrinka. Djokovic spoke highly of Wawrinka, considering him a great person and finding inspiration in his ability to maintain a high level of play even at almost 40 years old.
Roger Federer, who visited Wimbledon and retired from professional tennis last year, believes that Djokovic is the favorite to equal his record. Federer acknowledged that every player has their moment, and if someone surpasses his achievements, it becomes their moment in the sport.
In other Wimbledon news, Taylor Fritz won his first-round match against Yannick Hanfmann after it was delayed by bad light and rain. Dominic Thiem was leading against Stefanos Tsitsipas when rain interrupted their match, which eventually resulted in Tsitsipas winning in a deciding match tie-break. Jannik Sinner and Frances Tiafoe also secured victories in their respective matches, advancing to the second round.
Djokovic, a 23-time major champion, is aiming to equal Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles and is also pursuing the calendar grand slam. Reflecting on his relationship with Centre Court, Djokovic expressed his deep appreciation for the court and the privilege he feels playing there.
Djokovic acknowledged Wawrinka’s role in denying him those titles and spoke highly of him as both a player and a person. If they meet, Djokovic referred to it as a duel of the veterans on the tour.
Federer acknowledged that every player has their moment, and if Djokovic surpasses his achievements, it would be Djokovic’s moment to shine.
In other Wimbledon updates, Taylor Fritz, the ninth seed, won his first-round match after it was delayed by bad light and rain. Dominic Thiem, former world number three, was leading against Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas before rain interrupted their match. Tsitsipas eventually won in a deciding match tie-break and will face Andy Murray in the second round. Seventh seed Jannik Sinner and tenth seed Frances Tiafoe both emerged victorious in straight-sets wins, advancing to the second round. Alexander Zverev, the 19th seed, is yet to play his first-round match against Gijs Brouwer.