Be like Djoko!

I don’t think there is anyone better than Novak when it comes to embodying the true characteristics of a world class champion. For a sportsperson playing at any reasonable level, if they had a genie granting just one wish, they should simply ask to ‘be like Djoko‘!

A disclaimer first up: I am a die hard Roger Federer fan and have tremendous love for Rafa Nadal too (a rare combination!) which by default puts me in the ‘Djoko Haters’ group. I must admit, I was a part of that group till early 201X when Djoko would regularly upend a potential Fedal match-up. Gone are those days!

Starting with a simple thought experiment:

• If I have to choose one person to play a tennis game to save my life, I would choose Rafa Nadal in his prime.
• If I have to choose one person to play a tennis game to enjoy one last game of tennis (or any other sport), I would choose Roger in his prime.
• If have to choose one person to play a tennis game to teach my son what true champions are made of, I would choose Novak Djokovic in his prime.

Just look at the graph below. Who wouldn’t want to be like Djoko?

Djoko was a late bloomer but he more than made up in the second half of his glorious career. In 2010, age 23, Djoko had just one grand-slam title after making his grand slam debut in 2005. In contrast, in 2010, Roger (age 29) had 16 wins and Rafa (aged 24) had 9 wins.

But thereafter, between 2011 and 2024:

• Rafa added 13 wins (retired in 2024)
• Roger added 4 wins (retired in 2022)
• Djoko added a staggering 23 wins (doesn’t look like retiring anytime soon)

Djoko broke through like a space ship & his ship isn’t showing any signs of slowing down yet. Its not that he achieved this with easy rival field – he also managed to get better of other two GOATs. Look at this head to head statistic, if you do not believe me!

Djoko’s grand-slam win distribution also looks a much more balanced or shall we say less lop-sided when compared to the other two. Rafa is a freak on clay court and no one’s touching his record anytime! But, Djoko is surely going to catch-up with Fed’s tally in Wimbledon and US Open given that Fed has already retired and Djoko isn’t retiring anytime soon.

It is not just grand slams, Djoko has surpassed the two tennis greats across all important statistics, save two, one of which he is likely to achieve soon for sure!

You may ask why am I comparing Djoko with Rafa and Fed only. Firstly, it isn’t worth comparing him with anyone else. There isn’t anyone even remotely close to these 3. And secondly, we are talking about being the ‘best of the best’!

In a game as technical and physical as tennis, it is astounding how Djoko has managed to be head and shoulders above everyone else. Further, he did it while playing in the same era as the two best ever players to grace the game – the Roger Federer and the Rafael Nadal! And he managed to do achieve all of this in a time frame much compressed when compared to the other two.

While Djoko was going about winning all the titles, he wasn’t exactly people’s favorite on the court. Every time he has played Fed or Rafa, Djoko had to not only defeat them but also the crowd which was madly in love with his opponents. Such is his mental fortitude that he was able to channel everything – love & more often hatred, thrown at him into a fierce and single minded determination to win. One can do this once, twice and may be thrice but to do this over and over across more than a decade takes an other-worldly mindset.

So, lets sum it up. Here is a player who has proven that a) he has the best skills in the game, b) he can win across any game condition, c) he can win against the best in the game over and over again, and d) he has the mindset to win despite all odds. Isn’t he the worthy GOAT!

Be like Djoko!

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PS: I continue to be a Fed fan purely because of the way he plays. I truly love Rafa purely for the grit and determination he demonstrated in the game. And, I absolutely admire Djoko for being the best of the best! It is a shame that we may no longer see these three giants battle each other again but they have given enough & more already for us to enjoy over and over again.