Not content with winning both tennis Grand Slams that have taken place already this year – the Australian Open and the French Open – ATP World Number 1 Novak Djokovic is well on his way to winning another. He’s breezed through the opening rounds at Wimbledon, and has a quarter-final match against Márton Fucsovics next.
With many of the big seeded players already eliminated, Djokovic can certainly fancy his chances. In fact, should all go to plan, we could have a repeat of the 2019 final, with the Serbian taking on old foe, Roger Federer. Nole is undoubtedly the favourite amongst those betting on Wimbledon 2021, and should he be successful, will level with both Federer and Rafael Nadal for the total number of Grand Slam titles – with 20.
From there, it’s just the US Open to play, with Flushing Meadows opening her doors at the end of next month – and who knows, with the Olympics also taking place this year, Djokovic could be on his way to an impressive men’s first Golden Slam.
To say it’s been plain-sailing to this point, wouldn’t be too far from the truth, and while Djokovic went a set down against British wildcard Jack Draper in his opening match, he’s not been challenged since. The Serbian went on to triumph in that first-round clash 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
He made lightwork of opponent Kevin Anderson in round two – with a straight sets victory 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, setting up a third round encounter with qualifier, Denis Kudla. Again, a straight sets win, although a tie-break settled the third and final set. And so, it was the 17th seed, Cristian Garín of Chile in round 4. Djokovic dispatched of his opponent easily – with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win – to secure his landmark 50th Grand Slam quarter-final.
His next challenger, Fucsovics has reached a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time – and had previously never got further than the second round at Wimbledon. The Hungarian has, however, defeated both the number 9 seed Diego Schwartzman and the number 5 seed Andrey Rublev to get to this point, so should not be underestimated.
But on the Golden Slam – it’s a feat that has never been done in the men’s singles game. Despite their dominance in the sport, it’s an achievement missing from both Federer and Nadal’s record books, while they do have 40 Grand Slam titles between them – certainly a triumph in itself.
And former tennis star – and seven-time Grand Slam winner – John McEnroe has warned that it’s a feat that will be difficult to achieve.
“This is my personal opinion, he’s going to lose at the Olympics,” he said during Wimbledon coverage, on the BBC.
“Maybe someone can surprise him and then it will wake him up for the US Open and he’ll win it all which will be monumental.”
Regardless of whether or not Djokovic makes history is irrelevant. He’s in fine form, and confidence will definitely be high after that Roland-Garros victory. He had put an end to Nadal’s dominance, with the King of Clay winning the last four titles at the French Open, and winning 13 in total.
But whether it’s on clay, or the lawns of SW19, there’s no denying Djokovic serving up the best that the sport has to offer. No-one is invincible, but he runs very close.
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