Incredible run: Serbia's Novak Djokovic is 37-0 this season after his straight-sets victory over Rafael Nadal in the Italian Open final on Sunday in Rome. APNEW YORK — It's tough to decide what's most impressive about Novak Djokovic's 37-0 record in 2011, the best start in men's tennis in more than a quarter-century.Djokovic has won all seven tournaments he's entered, including the Australian Open; he had never collected more than five titles in a full season. He's a combined 7-0 against Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, two men who dominated him and the sport the past several years.He's 13-0 against all top-10 players. He leads the ATP in return games won and is second in service games won.The No. 1-ranked Nadal summed it up simply, saying: "He is doing amazing things."Nadal should know.He is 0-4 against the second-ranked Djokovic this season, including straight-set losses in the finals on clay at Madrid and Rome this month. Those matches—and Djokovic's body of work all year—completely change the dynamic heading to the French Open, the clay-court Grand Slam tournament that begins next weekend."Nadal doesn't seem to know what to do against him, and quite honestly, if Nadal is baffled by playing him, then that just shows you how great he's playing on clay," seven-time major champion John McEnroe said in a telephone interview Monday. "You're looking at a guy who's the best player in the world right now."McEnroe owns the Open era mark for best start to a season, 42-0 in 1984, which Djokovic would surpass by reaching the final in Paris. McEnroe will be there as an NBC analyst, including for the June 5 men's final."It's probably the one record—or one of the few, if any—I have left. That would be the bad part. But at the same time, the good part is it's given quite a real shot in the arm to tennis, which I'm quite happy about," McEnroe said. "There's some excitement going into the French. There's something really to talk about."Nadal has won five of the past six titles at Roland Garros; Djokovic has never made it past the semifinals there. But Djokovic, who turns 24 the day the French Open starts, has the momentum and mental edge at the moment, including this tidbit: He is the first player to beat Nadal twice on clay in one season."Let us be clear: He is the 'King of Clay,' and he is the best player ever to play on this surface," Djokovic said after beating Nadal 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday's Italian Open final. "I have won against him twice in the last eight days, which I think is incredible, an incredible achievement for me, and has given me a lot of confidence for the French Open."
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Djokovic's strong play has tennis world talking
Incredible run: Serbia's Novak Djokovic is 37-0 this season after his straight-sets victory over Rafael Nadal in the Italian Open final on Sunday in Rome. APNEW YORK — It's tough to decide what's most impressive about Novak Djokovic's 37-0 record in 2011, the best start in men's tennis in more than a quarter-century.Djokovic has won all seven tournaments he's entered, including the Australian Open; he had never collected more than five titles in a full season. He's a combined 7-0 against Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, two men who dominated him and the sport the past several years.He's 13-0 against all top-10 players. He leads the ATP in return games won and is second in service games won.The No. 1-ranked Nadal summed it up simply, saying: "He is doing amazing things."Nadal should know.He is 0-4 against the second-ranked Djokovic this season, including straight-set losses in the finals on clay at Madrid and Rome this month. Those matches—and Djokovic's body of work all year—completely change the dynamic heading to the French Open, the clay-court Grand Slam tournament that begins next weekend."Nadal doesn't seem to know what to do against him, and quite honestly, if Nadal is baffled by playing him, then that just shows you how great he's playing on clay," seven-time major champion John McEnroe said in a telephone interview Monday. "You're looking at a guy who's the best player in the world right now."McEnroe owns the Open era mark for best start to a season, 42-0 in 1984, which Djokovic would surpass by reaching the final in Paris. McEnroe will be there as an NBC analyst, including for the June 5 men's final."It's probably the one record—or one of the few, if any—I have left. That would be the bad part. But at the same time, the good part is it's given quite a real shot in the arm to tennis, which I'm quite happy about," McEnroe said. "There's some excitement going into the French. There's something really to talk about."Nadal has won five of the past six titles at Roland Garros; Djokovic has never made it past the semifinals there. But Djokovic, who turns 24 the day the French Open starts, has the momentum and mental edge at the moment, including this tidbit: He is the first player to beat Nadal twice on clay in one season."Let us be clear: He is the 'King of Clay,' and he is the best player ever to play on this surface," Djokovic said after beating Nadal 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday's Italian Open final. "I have won against him twice in the last eight days, which I think is incredible, an incredible achievement for me, and has given me a lot of confidence for the French Open."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment