Rod Laver has said that handling pressure is the key for Novak Djokovic as the Serb prepares for a historic US Open campaign.
The world number one is looking to achieve something that only a couple of players have achieved before him as he looks to win the calendar grand slam at the US Open.
One of those players was Rod Laver who has recently said that he would be ‘happy’ for Djokovic if he was to achieve the ultimate success but admits handling pressure will be key to the title in New York, “I’d be very happy to shake his hand if he can win the four Slams,” Laver told the Associated Press.
“I’d be happy for him to be a part of — whether it’s a ‘club’ or not, I don’t know. When Don Budge won it in 1938, and I did it in ’62, he says: ‘We’re in a special club here. There’s only two of us in it.
“I never said I was going for a Grand Slam; that’s pressure right there. And Djokovic, I think he wants to talk about it, and so that could be a detriment, if there is one. He knows all the players, so there shouldn’t be any problem with [that].
“I think pressure is the one thing Djokovic may find himself having problems [with]. Maybe he’s not feeling well. There’s lots of things that can go wrong.”
Djokovic will be hoping to join the small club of Rod Laver and Don Budgie as he looks to win a record-breaking 21st grand slam.
The Serb’s first round match will take place on Tuesday night as he starts his bid for history.
Djokovic’s Projected US Open Run By Ranking
R1: Holger Rune (145)
R2: Jan-Lennard Struff (52)
R3: David Goffin (30)
R4: Alex De Minaur (17)
QF: Matteo Berrettini (8)
SF: Alexander Zverev (4)
Final: Daniil Medvedev (2)
