I don’t want to live my life in fear each time I step on a tennis court.
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Federer’s failure to capitalise on form in finals is not a new phenomenon. But on the evidence of the months gone by, Novak Djokovic isn’t one to be daunted at the prospect. Implacably. Inarguably. nearly serenely.
Everywhere you looked, there were records on the line as one of the most popular and intense rivalries-Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer-took to court for the biggest prize on the ATP circuit, the World Tour Finals.
Since losing to Ivo Karlovic in the quarter-finals in Doha at the start of the year, Djokovic has reached the final of every tournament he has played in, 15 in all.
Djokovic also made amends for defeat by six-time champion Federer in the group stage on Tuesday. Rafael Nadal would be forced to agree. Could he possibly snatch his year from what, for him, had to be a black hole of frustration? Federer continued to press his attacking game, not wanting to play extended points.
With Britain’s Davis Cup final edging closer, there had been suggestions that Murray would not push his body to the limit in London.
And, of course, there was Federer. Djokovic dipped a drive at his feet forcing Federer to shovel a half-volley miss as Djokovic seized a one-set lead. Both players gave their best, but in the end it was the Japanese, who triumphed in three sets.
After the match, all Federer could do was tip his hat to the way Djokovic stood firm, absorbing every blow without flinching, as Federer went down swinging. Mentally you have to be at your peak at all times. Doesn’t need much, you know. You can’t always be on the winning side.
“Margins are small at the very top”, Federer said. He’s had a ridiculously good year. I tried my best this year.
Djokovic did indeed back it up in 2015.
Judging from the way Djokovic is roaring, and the seeming lack of challenge, it won’t be long before he conquers France and maybe even manage a Career Golden Slam in the coming year. It was also just before the onset of Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg; hence, it’s no great surprise that McEnroe never again lifted a Slam trophy after 1984.
Achievements will always be bettered and records broken, but when Roger Federer was dominating the sport in the noughties and racking up the majority of his record 17 Major trophies, it couldn’t possibly be imagined that a player from the same generation could even come within touching distance of the great Swiss’ haul, but Rafa Nadal, and now Djokovic, are threatening to not only reach parity, but surpass him. “That’s the key, more or less”.
He was quoted as saying by several national newspapers: “I was going to go, but I am not going any more. It allows me to have the longevity”. Federer won five straight points holding for 4-all and rousing the pro-Federer crowd eager to see him force a deciding set. It proved to be no idle threat, though. And if his head-to-head with Djokovic in finals is skewed at 6-11, his career final head-to-head with Nadal is exactly half at 7-14 (in an overall career head-to-head of 11-23).
But at that stage, either man could lose a match and still move on.
Chosen as Serbia’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony, Djokovic was beaten in the semifinals by eventual gold medalist Andy Murray and lost the bronze medal play-off to Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro. He wasn’t exactly going through the motions in the first match; in the final, his shots had more goal and sting.
It was not as routine as the score suggests but Djokovic finished the stronger. It was anything but.
But Djokovic adopted more aggressive tactics for the final: “I had to change something”, he admitted after sealing victory when Federer double faulted.
The result means after 90 matches against Federer and Nadal, Djokovic is tied with both.
Federer, on if he will work on his game specifically to beat Djokovic: “Not really”. However, the Swiss star showed magnificent resilience to win five consecutive points with some much-improved serving and hold against all odds.
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Djokovic got his first reward after just 13 minutes – a break of serve – and from then on Federer was hanging on, more in hope than in belief.
