Google News 'I think Novak Djokovic’ll be going hard to get...', says former star
by SIMONE BRUGNOLI | VIEW 1711
Novak Djokovic continues to break records. Forced to miss several tournaments due to the lack of vaccination against Covid19, the former world number one managed to win a title in each category: an Atp 250 (Tel Aviv), an Atp 500 (Astana), a 1000 tournament (Rome), the Atp Finals and a Grand Slam title (Wimbledon).
A booty that he managed to conquer despite the limitations he had to face: stopped in the first part of the season, from Australia until his return to Dubai; then another stopped, with the non-exit to North America, also skipping the Us Open.
Thus, compared to the 49 games played, the balance is 42 wins and 7 losses: the balance of victories, therefore, is 85.71%. A figure, however, that is not surprising, considering that it is not the first season that the twenty-one-time Grand Slam champion has reached this figure.
In fact, it is the ninth time he has exceeded 85% in a single season. No one before Novak Djokovic has managed to exceed that percentage for nine different years: he is the first tennis player to do so. A goal that is divided into two precise phases of his career: he has achieved more than 85% victories since 2011, the first year in which he won three Grand Slam tournaments out of four; the strip was extended uninterrupted until 2016.
His highest point was reached in 2015, when the winning percentage reached 93%, while in 2011 it stopped at 92% and he failed to replicate this success from 2017 to 2019; although there have been years, especially the last two, in which he has won Grand Slam titles and beyond.
In these three years, the percentage has reached 80% on two occasions, while in 2019 it rose to 84%.
McNamee comments on Djokovic
Novak Djokovic remains “the best player” in the world and he will “add gravy and gravitas” to the 2023 Australian tennis summer with doubles great Paul McNamee saying he is the favourite to win next year’s Australian Open.
“He was the best player going in [last summer] and, on form, he is still the best player, especially on hard court, so he deserves to be favourite,” he told The Age. “I think winning 10 has a special ring to it.
The only other man who’s won 10 [at a Grand Slam event] is Rafa [Nadal] at the French, so I think he’ll be going hard to get a 10th Australian Open, especially after last year. I’m hoping he can get it. For me, he’s a person of principle.
Not everyone agrees with what his position is, but he stands by his word and missed two Grand Slams this year. That’s a lot to miss when you’re one off winning the most Grand Slams, so I respect it and I hope he is well received”.