Djokovic Grabs Top Spot, but Won’t Claim Wimbledon Title

Look for Djokovic to take the fall against Nadal

Novak Djokovic – This is his time.

When the new rankings come out next week, Djoko will be the number one player in the world according to the ATP computer. What he won’t have is the coveted cup that goes along with the 2011 Wimbledon title.

All signs point Rafael Nadal hoisting up his third Wimbledon trophy in four years.

Djokovic has enjoyed one of the easiest and luckiest grand slam draws in many years. Any time, you can cruise into the Wimbledon finals without playing a single player ranked in the top 15; you are very, very fortunate. Djokovic screamed and howled through every victory, even though he never encountered a top-ranked opponent.

Djokovic looks surprisingly mortal on the grass. His superior movement bogs down on the green stuff down and his unforced errors break into double digits.

The biggest break in the tournament for the Serb came when Roger Federer forgot to close out his QF match against Tsonga.

Tsonga was a pretender, not a contender and Djokovic ate him up on Saturday. Now he's riding high into the championship match having beaten Nadal in four straight finals. However, this is a grand slam and it's being contested on grass. Two pivotal factors that will leave Djokovic on the outside looking in.

It doesn’t matter whether Rafa is ranked 1, 2, or 102 – he is the most ferocious competitor in tennis and he is hungry to claim his third Wimbledon crown.

Rafa certainly won’t be happy to give up his number one ranking to Djokovic on Monday, but securing his eleventh grand slam title by beating him in the final will surely easy the pain.

The Joke is on Djokovic for the 2011 French Open

No one can deny that Novak Djokovic’s 37-match win streak is terribly impressive. He’s rolled over the world’s number one player, Rafael Nadal in four straight finals, twice on hard courts and twice on clay. All signs point to Djokovic marching into Paris and leaving as the conquering hero. Only one problem – it’s not going to happen. The best of five sets will sink Djokovic at the French.

The joke will be on Djoker at the 2011 French Open. Never mind that Sports illustrated is crowing that: ''Novak Djokovic is the most dominant athlete in the world right now.'' The reality is that the best of five sets on the slow red clay of Roland Garros is infinitely more demanding than the best of three affairs where Djokovic has been using Nadal as a punching bag.

Djokovic has markedly improved his fitness. His cockiness and confidence is certainly at an all-time high – but this isn’t his year at the French. His top-heavy spring schedule is about to catch up with him and he doesn’t even know it yet.

If Djokovic gets to the final, his tank will be sputtering on empty. Nadal on the other hand is looking for payback. Just like he took it to Robin Soderling in the 2010 final – Nadal knows that beating Novak on the grand stage will temporarily beat back all the chatter surrounding who people are already calling the new Number One. Also, it remains to be seen if Djokovic has what it takes to outclass Federer on clay.

Besides, did you listen to that silly primal screaming the Djoker unleashed after he beat Nadal in Rome? Try and act like you’ve been there before. It’s hard to imagine what the lad might do if he actually beat Nadal in a grand slam final. It will eventually happen, but not at this year's French.

Ravenous Djokovic Pummels Murray, Claims Second Grand Slam Title

Djokovic overwhelms Murray in grand slam sleeper.

Novac Djokovic hammered Andy Murray in the 2011 Australian Open final, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. Both players went into the match full of belief, but it became readily apparent that Murray was no match for the 23-year-old Serb, brimming with confidence after overwhelming Roger Federer in the semis.

The contest was shaping up to be a spirited affair until Djokovic broke Murray ‘s will towards the end of the first set. Murray was serving at 15-30, 4-5 in the first set when both players stretched each other out across the full length of the court with a phenomenal 39-shot rally.

Both players displayed superior defense chasing down sure winners until Novac charged the net and Murray dumped a forehand in the bottom of the net. That gave Djokovic a pair of set points and Murray appeared to be dead in the water after that rally. It stole his spirit and drained his confidence as Djokovic shifted into cruise control, winning the set and running away with the match.

Notice has been served to the tennis world, that Djokovic is now the greatest threat to Nadal’s tennis supremacy. His fitness, confidence and improved serve are the key ingredients that have pushed Djokovic from contender to champion.

Del Potro Pulls Greatest Upset in U.S. Open History

Del Potro shocks tennis world, rallies twice to down Federer.

Roger Federer enjoyed 2,200 days of undefeated tennis at the U.S. Open – That streak ended on Monday as 20-year-old Juan Martin Del Potro shocked the world by coming back not once, but twice against the mighty Roger Federer to beat him in five glorious sets, 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2.

During the first 19 games of the match, Del Potro looked nervous and lost as if the occasion had completely overwhelmed him. His shotgun serve was shooting blanks and his blistering forehand was missing in action.

But something strange happened around 5-5 in the second set; Del Potro began to believe in himself. Suddenly the booming serve was finding its mark and the forehand began to do its damage. Del Potro evened the match and seemed ready to take down the five-time U.S. Open Champion.

But disaster struck for the young Argentine when he hit two consecutive double faults to throw away the 3rd set. But Delpo would not go softly into the night. He actually seemed invigorated by the loss.

He found his game once again and began dictating the points. Federer began to lose his cool and even pulled a Serena, using audible expletives in front of a national television audience while berating the chair umpire.

Delpo took the fourth set tiebreaker and handled Federer easily in the fifth set. The giant killer blasted Nadal in yesterday’s semifinal and stole the king’s crown tonight. So many great players have tried to knock off Federer during his five-year win streak, but it was bull from Argentina that finally humbled the number one player in the world.

Having followed the exploits of Juan Martin Del Potro all summer long – I was honored to pick Delpo as the man who would end Federer’s long reign of power at the U.S. Open when the tournament began on August 31, 2009.

Here’s a brief list of articles and links chronicling his run through the 2009 U.S. Open Championships:

Monday, August 31, 2009
Beware the Dark Horse from Argentina

Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Murray Melts Down, Del Potro Hungry for More

Saturday, September 12, 2009
Nadal-Federer Final? -- Don’t Count on It: 20-year-old Del Potro prepared to shock the tennis world

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Look for Del Potro to Derail Federer’s Win Streak

Roddick Will Falter on the Swiss Alps -- Beware the Dark Horse from Argentina

         Could Del Potro make a run at the 2009 US Open?

In the top half of the men’s draw, Andy Roddick finds himself on the same side as Roger Federer. Andy’s dismal record against Fed is not really worth repeating, but let’s give the American props if he advances to the semis to face Federer this year. Yes, Andy R. had a great Wimbledon and most Americans (myself included) hope he can break the SWISS curse at the US Open in 2009, but don’t count on it.

Nadal’s injury recharged Federer and gave him a new lease on his already storied tennis career. His confidence is sky-high since he took back the number one ranking winning both the French and Wimbledon this year. The only half decent threat to Federer before the semis is the young American and 22nd seed, Sam Querrey. Querrey had a terrific summer on the hard courts, but isn’t quite ready to conquer the Swiss Alps.

No one is even talking about the fourth seed, Novak Djokovic. It wasn't that long ago that Djokovich was being heralded as the next true force in tennis. Nobody is even whispering his name at this year's U.S. Open. That is a major oversight. Roddick would have to best Djokovic in the quarters just to get a shot at Fed.

What’s really interesting in the bottom half of the draw is my dark horse pick, Juan Martin Del Potro from Argentina. This guy is a piece of work. He’s a giant that covers the court like a wide receiver. He serves lights out and could give second seeded Andy Murray the same treatment he got from Roddick at Wimbledon. The guy has no fear and fires winners from every position on the court. Many people say this might be Murray’s coming out party, but I’m putting my money on Del Potro. Whoops, no betting in tennis!

The bottom half of this draw is a nightmare for the third seeded Nadal who is trying to return from a variety of injuries. He has a rough first round clash with the Frenchman Richard Gasquet, once the number seven player in the world. If Nadal somehow advances into the quarters, he could run into another Frenchman, seventh seeded, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. I don’t see Nadal going that far anyway and I would be very surprised to see him make it to the second week of the 2009 Championships.