What Steffi Graf achieved 33 years ago is also possible again for Novak Djokovic and after the second triumph at the French Open a tempting thought: the Golden Slam.
In 1988, the German tennis idol succeeded in winning all four Grand Slam tournaments, plus the Olympic gold medal in Seoul. “Anything is possible and I have put myself in a good position for the Golden Slam,” said the Serb in Paris, two weeks before the kick-off at Wimbledon, where he joined the record-breaking Grand Slam tournament winners Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal could catch up.
But in the same breath, the 34-year-old remembered 2016: At that time, Djokovic had finally won the longed-for first triumph at the Stade Roland Garros and held all four Grand Slam titles at the same time. “That ended with the third round at Wimbledon,” said Boris Becker’s former protégé dryly, but also said: “I have no problem saying that I want the title at Wimbledon.” The announcement is not too daring, because in 2018 and 2019 the world number one won on the lawn in south-west London, last year the classic was canceled.
Ex-trainer trusts Djokovic to do everything
Djokovic wants to relax after the 6: 7 (6: 8), 2: 6, 6: 3, 6: 2, 6: 4 over the deeply disappointed Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas for a few days before thinking of Wimbledon . The victory over Nadal on his favorite surface and the race to catch up against Tsitsipas were physical and emotional maximum stresses for Djokovic. But he has taken what appears to be the highest hurdle.
His long-time coach Marijan Vajda has confidence in him this year: “He’s healthy now, he’s in great shape. He has the ability to win the Grand Slam this year. I’m pretty sure of that.” The trick of winning the four most important tournaments in one calendar year has so far only been successful in the men’s category with American Donald Budge in 1938 and Australian Rod Laver in 1962 and 1969.
The hunger to win more Grand Slam tournaments drives Djokovic in difficult moments. Belgrade, who is not popular with all fans and who sometimes did not look good in the Corona crisis, reported conversations with inner voices. In Paris, too, the one who told him he could do it prevailed. And with that attitude, he also made it into Tsitsipas’s head. After a toilet break before the third set, the Greek hardly recognized his opponent in his first Grand Slam final. “I don’t know what happened, but for me he suddenly came back as a different player,” said the 22-year-old.
In four weeks Djokovic could then have 20 Grand Slam titles like Federer and Nadal, who dropped out in Paris. If everything goes according to plan, he could hold the record alone after the US Open in September – garnished with Olympic gold from Tokyo.
dpa
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Stand: 14.06.2021, 07:26
