But this final pitch to the summit proved too much. I think the earlier matches and energy it took to win the previous matches to get to the final against three of the top names in tennis right now proved too much for Novak's 34-year-old body and I think as John McEnroe pointed out, Novak's legs just weren't there.
Disappointed but God bless the players and what thrills Novak has given us this year. I don't recall ever praying for a player before, but I found myself praying for Novak. It was a wonderful U.S. Open this year.
He’s better but sometimes he just makes a decision not to win.
This is far more elusive than racing’s Triple Crown. Had no idea.
Daniil Medvedev simply outplayed the Joker and deserved to win. Making excuses for Novak just minimizes Medvedev’s excellent game plan and execution.
Watch tennis or organize my sock drawer....I choose the latter.
carry on...
Medvedev played a brilliant match, Djokovic at thirty four was tired.. Prior to the match, Medvedev was asked about Djokovic’s opportunity and history to win a Golden Gran Slam. Medvedev answered, I will try to make my own history by being the one to deny Djokovic that honor. (paraphrased) He did.
But this final pitch to the summit proved too much. I think the earlier matches and energy it took to win the previous matches to get to the final against three of the top names in tennis right now proved too much for Novak's 34-year-old body and I think as John McEnroe pointed out, Novak's legs just weren't there.
I just think he was gassed today. It is extremely hard to win a major tennis tournament. Seven matches against increasingly better opponents every round. To win three of these tournaments in one year is a great achievement, for some a career achievement.
That said I was really hoping he would pull it off today. The man is usually a banger, and he hits some incredible shots and never really seems to be out of a match (he came back from two sets down to win the French). But he just didn't have it today. It demonstrates how hard it is to win the calendar grand slam, and despite McEnroe (won three in 1984) and Sampras (never won the French) and Agassi and Nadal (perhaps the greatest clay-court player of all time) and Federer (he didn't do it either), no one has done it since Laver (who did it twice actually) in 1969.
Thank you for a great season Novak Djokovic.
Indeed it was. Was so happy to see the qualifier Raducanu win yesterday.
My view is that some of Djokovic’s success is because of a demographic thing. He is enough younger than the others that they aged out earlier and he has sort of an open run until younger players catch up in skill - not trying to take anything away from him. He is a skilled and very disciplined player. But age gets all of us, and clearly his opportunity is gone. It will be brutal trying to continue to dominate a phenomenal group of young players.
Aluminum” (Graphite-Boron-Fiberglass, etc,...) bats in Major League baseball. No different.
The artistry is gone. Laver McEnroe Sampras Rosewall Borg (who played serve and volley at Wimbledon despite being baseliner) Pedro Becker M Court Evone G.
Tennis is past. One dimensional.
5 hour matches.