Djokovic set to reign?
Last updated: 9th June 2008
Novak Djokovic won the season's first Grand Slam and on Sunday claimed the first Masters event of 2008 in California.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both flopped in the two biggest events of the year so far and neither has won a title this season.
The Serb is rapidly closing on the top two in the rankings and is already being talked of as a number one - sooner rarther than later.
Has the Federer era ended? And is the Djokovic era about to begin?
Share your thoughts...
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Comments
Michael Benson says...
To be frank about all this, we need to look at this in another perspective, there are three main courts in the world of tennis where most of the gram slams if not all of the gram slams reside. Which are the Australian Open(hard), Roland Garros (clay), Wimbledon (grass) and the US Open(hard). Federer who dominates wimbledon each year, nadal the second meeting him in the finals and djokovic who met nadal in the semi's. Roland Garros which nadal dominates, djokovic being better than federer at clay but not by a long shot, a surface i think federer is not is best on if not the his worst on. Finally we have the US open and the Australian open that djokovic is the best on, federer definitly right behind him nadal no where near, Something i think if he improves will be number one within months. In relations with the arguement I think that djokovic is definitly a future No. 1 no doubt, he has had a good start to the year and has alot of potential and alot of time to improve on his game but we need to take federer who wants to play until he is 35 years old, nadal who has 26 titles under his belt at 21, on head to head nadal reigns supreme with 7-3 on every surface, federer with 6-2, nadal beating federer with 10-6 . So we need to take these statistics into consideration. And say that yes you are good djokovic, but how to come against the lights of federer and nadal.
Posted 01:23 23rd May 2008
Dayo Asomuyide says...
It was an interesting last week in Hamburg and I looked into what Djokovic was going to achieve. I think Novak should concentrate fully on developing his game and mental strength to become No 1 in the world. Federer would have had Djokovic thumped at Hamburg if they had met. Federer is a competitor and we must all respect him for all the achievement at his age. It is such a shame that many do not give Nadal the credit that he deserves. Nadal is only 21 with 26 titles already. 3 Grand Slams were achieved already before Novak's first one and only one as it stands. Thankfully Djokovic did not have as tough a competition at the Australian Open finals. Of course, he did well to win the slam. Federer has got 12 Grand Slam titles... My God, that is a lot in modern day tennis, not to mention the other titles he won. If Djokovic will be compared to Federer, he has a long road to tread and some serious work to do... I do not suppose the other players are going to sleep and make Novak rule them totally as he speculates over the next 10 years, duhh! I can see Nadal's game develop on the other surfaces. He has been in the Wimbledon Finals twice - when he was 19 and 20 respectively. He did well at Queens... I cannot remember Novak getting to the finals yet on grass. Federer has 5 Wimbledon titles. How can we compare Novak and Roger? So totally unfair! Nadal gave Roger the run at the Wimbledon Finals... It was not an easy encounter. This is what tennis is all about. Certainly, Novak has got talent but it is not the breathtaking one which fans have never seen before. Does it surpass Federer's? No way! It is Novak's time but he should not be carried away so soon mainly because he won one grand slam title. Patience is virtue. When the time comes, everyone will write to state what a master he is... For now, I am sorry Novak - you are still number 3 in the world while Roger reigns supreme!
Posted 01:07 20th May 2008
Marc Holden says...
This is an interesting argument. I think Federer is the best and I don't think he is finished yet but also i think Djokovic still has to overcome Rafael Nadal. In my opinion, Rafael Nadal is just a bit better than Novak Djokovic and you can see it in their head-to-head record. For me, Roger will remain number one for some time yet, but, Nadal will reach number one before Djokovic as his performance on surfaces other than clay are increasing and it is inevitable that Rafa will claim Wimbledon, Australian and US titles at some point and I don't see him losing Roland Garros any time soon.
Posted 18:11 17th May 2008
Sammy Bo says...
honestly, to be frank with you all, except those who are supporters of rafael nadal, you're arguments for djokovic are completlely baseless. nadal has just won a three setter against djokovic, coming back form 3 nail down in the first set, and after losing the 2nd 6 to 2, ripped apart Djokovic 6 to 2 as well. three hours and 3 minutes. Countinuosly djokovic has flopped in the big stage...monte-carlo. he won Rome only because Nadal had played 2 weeks in a row form monte-carlo to Barcelona. he won the Australian Open only because, Rafael Nadal was beaten by Tsonga, who one was an unknown quantity, and now ironically what have we heard of him. Djokovic won in indain wells, and that's fair enough he beat Nadal, but every has to play to their strenghts, and nadal won monte-carlo, and he's now in the final against federer in Hamburg. None of you, have ever given Nadal the credit he so rightfully deserves, and here comes Djokovic, and you're head over heels ofr him. in the 2005 season, nadal was 19, he won 11 tornaments, including 4 masters series titles, and roland Garros. so c'mon, djokovic is older, let's see him do it. i see nadal being a no. one soon, if he stays injury-free, he will get there.
Posted 17:21 17th May 2008
Joly G says...
No doubt FEDEX remains the number 1. Great achievements and he has not finished to amaze us. Djoko has got a long way to go, if he ever becomes world number 1, will he be able to keep that ranking for 4 years? I am not so sure So let's have respect for great champion
Posted 12:32 13th May 2008
Cheryl Cole says...
I think Federer is the best, he will dorminate for 5 or more years to come.
Posted 12:24 9th May 2008
Stefan Koprivica says...
Im sorry to disappoint everyone who doubts Djokovic's credentials, but he will be number, if not this year, then next year. It is only a matter of time. Althought Federer is still one of the best if not the best player in the world, he has slowly started to spiral downwards. 1 tournament all season, and it isnt even a Masters shield. Nadal, anyone can match him on hard courts, its just that players choke when it comes to the big stage. I think this is one of the major factors for Federer and Nadal coming through so many matches. The fear factor. Slowly, Nadal's grip on clay court tennis will start to loosen, as Djokovic's clay court game rises. Federer can't get any better, nor can Nadal really, they have reached their respective peaks, and it is only a matter of time before downwards spiral will co-incide with Djokovic's inevitable rise. If Djokovic has carved up so much success at the tender age of 20, then it is only a matter of time before he starts to dominate the game, whilst, Federer slowly slips away. Nadal, meanwhile also has many years ahead of him, although his ultra-power play will eventually start to lose steam. Nadal will stay amongst the world's top players, except this time, it will be Djokovic's number 1 spot he will be tirelessly chasing, not Federer's.
Posted 22:33 6th May 2008
Phil Coates says...
Federer is a superb player but has played in an era where the opposition level was well below standard. Federer did not have to face the calibre of Boris Becker, Michael Chang, Goran Ivanesevic, Jim Courier, Stefan Edberg, Ivan Lendl, Pat Rafter. His opponents were Mark Philipoussis, Marat Safin, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Marcos Bagdhatis, Fernando Gonzalez, Tim Henman, James Blake etc. Only Rafael Nadal (clay surfaces) and now Novak Djokovic are in the same class as most of Sampras' opponents. I think Federer will have a tough time with Djokovic from now on and even Davydenko and Tipsaravic will be increasingly hard for him to handle
Posted 19:45 6th May 2008
Tongi Taylor says...
I think novak has still a long way to go before he can become world nun mumber 1
Posted 07:11 5th May 2008
Alexander Maxwell-cole says...
Federer is still the man! His achievement speaks... and at the age of 27. I appreciate the effort of the only grand slam won by Djokovic and because he had Federer's number at the tournament is not to say Federer's time is up. Nadal is another man who has really achieved at the very young age of 21. He has defended titles a number of times and he has over 20 titles with 3 grand slams. I cannot see how Djokovic measures up to Roger or Rafael. Let's face it - Djokovic longs to identify with the two at the top but he still has some way to go to prove this. Particularly I was disappointed that Novak terminated the match at the Masters series against Roger claiming he was dizzy. Watching the match, I thought he came out of the blocks to prove a point against Roger but Roger was not having any of that. If he is to be compared to Roger or Rafael, he would have to prove himself, especially when Novak talks about himself as the man to beat. Duhh! Djokovic's recent comment about British tennis is a bit absurd. There is no doubt that Djokovic has some talent but can we all still see Federer as the main man for now!
Posted 22:05 3rd May 2008
Jim Jones says...
i believe federer's reign is not over. watching him in monte carlo and estoril showed that he is still playing superb tennis on his least favorite surface. Djokovic is playing well but can only contend with federer on hard courts, but not clay and definitely not on grass. I feel federer still has a few more years at the top because he is the best on grass and hard courts. I believe he will win wimbledon again this year and will get to the final of roland garros hopefully beating nadal in the final. He had a bad start to the season, but everyone has a bad glitch once in a while. So i think everyone is starting to cancel federer out far to early. He is the best in the world and possibly the best ever, so cancel him out at your own peril. Djokovic will have his day, but today belongs to federer
Posted 15:59 3rd May 2008
Ali akbar Hamdani says...
Djokovic is the next world number 1. There is no denying that. This guy has a killer server, a decent running speed and execellent shot accuracy. Mark my words "Roger Federer is going down".
Posted 10:11 3rd May 2008
Rajiv Bronson says...
Well,, whats all this talk about who is better than who and why... c'mon guys... We are watching two of the greatest competitors of probably ..well.. ALL TIME!!!! In one corner there is swiss express,the man, federer... somebody who has won TWELVE Grand Slams Singles titles for christ sake.... and maybe what 53 or 54 career singles titles. ..and he's all of only 27 years old... since when did tennis become a school boy's game... i have watched past champions battle it out on the court at the age of 35!!!!!! he's still so young... and then In the other corner we have The King of clay, the spanish Bull, Rafael Nadal... winner of 3 Grand slam singles Titles... possible the toughest of all Grand Slams.. and 24 career singles titles... now this guy is just 21 years old(we simply forget that)... i mean.. get real people....and the only one to have ever really challenged the fedex... and quiet possibly the only one ever.. i cannot possible understand why djokovic is being spoken so much about.. if anything he needs to be talked about then its his manners.. which he seems to lack.. he doesn't respect any of his fellow players.. he just rubs me the wrong way... hey... but we have had guys like him before.. so it doesn't really make a difference... none what so ever... eventually all that it comes down to is what a player does on the court... and for now, We are witnessing two of the best players there ever was, ever will be, battle it out on court... so lets all just keep quiet, sit back, relax, and enjoy the game of TENNIS!!!!! Let's go Fedex!!!! Vamos Rafa!!!!
Posted 10:44 30th April 2008
Fidel Grimes says...
hell no..federer is the best..
Posted 23:38 28th April 2008
David Rejwan says...
You will see that Federer will still be here for the next ten years and he will win Roland Garros few times, and never what so ever there will be another player to beat his records for a very very long time. djokovic started playing tennis when he was fourteen years old, Federer at that time was a great junior champiom. Today Federer In Monte Carlo showed that he was physically stronger than djokovic who decided to give up in the second set, so Federer is not week and is not suffering from illeness. The game that federer has and all the variations and the weapons is something that nobody can have. Beside all that Djokovic is mentally very nervous losing his control and getting dicouraged, a bit like Murat Safin, and this does not help at all. I personally give no chance to djokovic to be number one, on the other hand Nadal might become no one after Roland Garros, but not for a long time. Federer will take back the control after Wimbledon and the U.S open for sure.
Posted 18:27 28th April 2008
David Thompson says...
Novak is a great talent but he won't dominate in the way Federer or Sampras did. I think as Federer dips we'll see a power void with Nadal, Djokovic, Baghdatis, Roddick and possibly Murray emerging to fight for that top spot.
Posted 15:39 28th April 2008
Vasant B says...
No way. Novak Djokovic is good player but we cannot compare him with Feddie the Great.!! Novak Djokovic has lot to prove to take place of King Feddie.. Long Long years to go King Feddie will rull..!!
Posted 14:24 28th April 2008
Zakia Hussain says...
It is absurd to think that Federer's reign is over, he is over 1000 points ahead of Rafa in the rankings, but I'm looking forward to Rafa being no.1 as soon as possible, he thoroughly deserves it. He is probably the best ever player to remain at no.2 for so long! Djokovic is very talented, but a long way off from becoming no.1 in the world. Federer has the finesse, Rafa has the heart, I'm not quite sure what Djokovic has, but to become world no.1 you need to have something more than just being a good tennis player, Davydenko proves that, unfortunately. Bring on Rafa's Reign!
Posted 12:29 28th April 2008
Master Miyagi says...
Well I think tennis tournaments will be highly conteseted in the next few years with Federer/Nadal/Djokovic in that order taking the spoils. For people to be claiming that Rogers reign is over, I think you are a little premature. I think Federer cannot be as dominate as before, simply because he has better and more competition. For those who think Djokovic is the next No.1 I definately do not see it, we have a small player called Nadal who we are overlooking. Although he is a clay court specialist we have seen him push Federer harder and harder at Wimbledon and should he get to another grand slam final I expect him to do well and capture another Grand Slam outside of the Roland Garos. Also I think Djokovic does not have the heart or determination of a Nadal and when the going gets tough I think he will loose focus we have already seen him retire WAY too many occassions already.
Posted 20:40 27th April 2008
Veronica Hawkins says...
What about Rafa Nadal? No mention by commentators this week ay Monte Carlo that he is also playing doubles and is in the Fina l of doubles and singles.
Posted 12:10 27th April 2008
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