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Djokovic's game needs work in some areas
It's quite difficult not to be taken by the personality and the game of Djokovic, who seems to be improving with every match he plays. While he didn't convert on them, the opportunities the Serb was able to create for himself in the first two sets against Federer represented the fruits of his dynamic efforts to stand even with a player whose legend precedes him. A player thought to be not in the least bit vulnerable. Thought that by many, but not by the positive-thinking Djokovic.
An educated guess as to why Djokovic didn't make good on the openings he created for a chance at gaining the upper-hand on Federer: The Serb stared across the net at the landscape -- opponent-wise -- of what was before him. What he saw was not Federer, but instead a God -- at least a God of tennis. So when looking directly at the supreme being of his sport, Djokovic was anything but a sure-shot maker. Instead, his inexperience pretty much messed with his game, and when that happened he just couldn’t do what he needed to do so Federer's responses on the court would sink him into a hole. Djokovic couldn’t keep his concentration level as high as Federer’s, and he paid the price by losing the first two sets, and then the third, bringing the match to a close.
For all his vast talent and potential, Djokovic isn’t a great player -- at least not yet, that’s for sure. But at this U.S. Open he summoned a run to be remembered. And he did so after reaching back-to-back semifinals at the French Open and Wimbledon. He's had an eye-opening year.
He probably should have come through at those key times, but he didn’t, and that indicates that his game still can mature. Where he has to work most at is his mental approach to the game. He also has to learn to volley better, and his backhand did breakdown in some key moments. As fun-loving as Djokovic is, he is a very determined professional athlete so I’m suspecting he’ll work hard on those areas that need some tending to. And if he does, that can only make him a better player.
Another terrific men's triangle forming?
Djokovic can be sure that he is the clear-cut No. 3 player in the world right behind Federer and Nadal. There have been some whispers that maybe Djokovic should be considered to replace Nadal as No. 2 behind Federer in the rankings, but he is definitely not yet at the level of being second-ranked in the world. He's not miles from that perch, but he still has a ways to go before reaching it.
Djokovic's potential has a ring of greatness to it. He turned pro in 2003. At the end of 2005 he was ranked No. 83. Upon completion of the 2006 season, he had elevated to No.16. And he entered this year's final major at No. 3 in both the rankings and seedings. With the game he's got, the passion he possesses, and his love for competing, it's a virtual lock that barring injury or an extended period of inactivity for some reason he has said bye-bye to anything less than a top-10 ranking.
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What excites tennis fans is the possible formation in their sport of a terrific triangle the likes of which was last seen in the 1970s when Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, and Bjorn Borg raged battles against each other, made even more interesting by them playing with what seemed like permanent chips on their shoulders. There's nothing like great players squaring off -- but even better is great players squaring off whom -- and this is putting it nicely -- don't hold any affinity for each other.
For the last few years tennis fans have had only Federer and Nadal as the sport's true top-notch rivalry -- and it's a rivalry that's bound to get better. With his play at the U.S. Open, Djokovic has sent the message he wants to add a dimension to this competition -- taking it from a two-man to three-man field. And with this Serb being a talented, scrappy, and all-heart force, expect the talk over the very elite in men's tennis to go from Federer-Nadal to Federer-Nadal-Djokovic.
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