TENNIS WIMBLEDON 2014 — Novak Djokovic didn’t do it in the Australian, where he usually does it. He didn’t do it in the French, where he’s never done it. And so this Wimbledon, to him and many others, the most important tournament in tennis, Djokovic has to win. Or else, his reputation will take a hit. Art Spander for Bleacher Report
Results, Order of Play, Draws and Interviews from The Championships
The Brits have a phrase for those who are in the battle but never triumph. They’re known as “nearly men.” They nearly did it.
As in the Super Bowl, the Buffalo Bills nearly did it. As in racing’s quest for a Triple Crown Silver Charm, Smarty Jones and, most recently, California Chrome nearly did it.
As in the U.S. Open golf tournament, Phil Mickelson, with his six second-place finishes, nearly did it.
Sport becomes an issue of what you’ve done lately. The Miami Heat? Used to be an NBA champion. Not lately. New York Yankees? Used to be World Series winners. Not lately.
Novak Djokovic? Six-time Grand Slam champion. But not lately.
Lately, he loses to Rafael Nadal in the final of the 2014 French Open. Lately, he loses to Nadal in the final of the 2013 U.S. Open. Lately, he loses to Andy Murray in the final of 2013 Wimbledon.
Not since the 2013 Australian Open, when he defeated Murray, six Slams past, has Djokovic won a big one.
So when he arrived for the start of this Wimbledon—where he is the No. 1 seed, even though he is No. 2 in the rankings behind Nadal—Djokovic was forced to talk as much about what he hadn’t done, the loss a couple weeks earlier in the French, as what he hoped to do.
“He deserved to win,” a magnanimous Djokovic said of Nadal at the French. “He was better in the big moments.”
As was Nadal in a U.S. Open final last September which featured a 54-shot rally, Djokovic sighing about Nadal, “He’s definitely one of the best players ever,” and TV commentator Mary Carillo asking “What’s it like to be playing a guy like Rafa?” and trapping Djokovic into mumbling, “Thanks for bringing that up.”
What’s been brought up about Novak Djokovic, 27, is his inability to reach the final threshold, to get himself included when the discussions deal with the greatest players of the current era.
The most obvious are Roger Federer, with his 17 slams, and Nadal, who has 14. Djokovic doesn’t always get a mention.
He’s in single figures, six Slams, including Wimbledon in 2011, the year when he also won the Australian and U.S. Open and was thought to be unstoppable. The domination disappeared.
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