Djokovic's pending challenges: from winning Olympic gold to squaring the big four in one year
The first thing Novak Djokovic did after seeing Daniil Medvedev's last forehand die in the net and consummating his twenty-fourth Grand Slam title at the US Open was to go hug his six-year-old daughter Tara.. Married to Jelena and also parents to Stefan, three years older, the man who opens his 390th week as number 1 in the world, displacing Carlos Alcaraz from that place, later confessed that in the most committed moments of the match he found inspiration thinking about the innocent smile of her daughter.
At 36 years old, with a fortune that exceeds 175 million dollars in prize money alone and a career that cannot be compared, it is logical to ask what he can still pursue after extending his advantage over Rafael Nadal to two majors, expanding his considerable distance as the tennis player who will hold the number 1 for the most weeks, add a total of 96 titles, be the only player who has won all the Masters 1000…
The record list is extraordinary. After what was seen in the final against Medvedev, the authority with which he won the first set, the skill with which he managed to sustain himself to carry out the second, when he showed signs of vulnerability and fatigue, the wide range of resources of the who once again showed off to complete a particularly pleasant victory not only for its sporting significance but also for the component of personal redemption after the 2021 setback against the same opponent, when he sought to become the third man to win the four majors in the same season, Nole is more current than ever.
Djokovic beats Medvedev and wins the US Open Tara and Stefan
Much was written after his defeat against Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final about the end of an era. The truth is that the Serbian, who has finished seven seasons as number 1, will manage to close a season for the fourth time with three of the big four in his pocket. Djokovic confesses that he wants his children to be aware of what is happening, as Roger Federer said when he won his seventh Wimbledon in 2017.
Beyond that logical and understandable feeling and the pure pleasure of competing, of seeing himself capable of doing so against much younger players, the Balkan could still round out his very lustrous record of achievements.. Next summer, in Paris, he has the possibility of fighting for the individual Olympic gold, which once again eluded him in the Tokyo Games, from where he came out badly after even losing the bronze to Pablo Carreño.
Having already clearly surpassed him in winning Grand Slam titles, as the Swiss remained at 20, Djokovic still has even numbers with Federer in Wimbledon titles, seven, and ATP Finals titles, six.. This coming November he has the option to surpass him, after winning the tournament again seven years later in 2022. In 2023 he will return to the grass of the All England Club.
More global titles
He is further away, and is also of a lower rank in his aspirations, to finish as the tennis player with the most global titles.. This United States Open has been number 96. He is ahead of Federer, with 103, and Jimmy Connors, with 109.. Behind them are Ivan Lendl, 94, and Rafa Nadal, 92. The selection of the calendar made by the most qualified tennis players, who sometimes even relegate the Masters 1000, to focus on the Grand Slam tournaments, distances the viability of meeting this challenge, although when it comes to who it is, you never know.
Djokovic also leads the Masters 1000 list, with 39 titles, three more than Nadal, the only player still active, waiting for his reappearance next season, which could now catch up with him.. But it is back to the greats where we can find another major incentive to continue watching him for a few more seasons, as long as he feels competitive, as he clarified again in the press conference after the US Open final.
For now, with just one more title, Margaret Court would break the tie and remain alone as the only person with 25 majors.. Even more