In 2016, Novak Djokovic went through a period of transition. He had conquered everything he believed possible in the world of tennis, his last Masters Cup in 2015, his first Roland Garros to close the circle of Grand Slams, and he felt empty. It was difficult for him to come back. Once you reach the top, everything around you seems small. But after a few months without meeting, he discovered behind some clouds that there were two peaks much higher than the one he had trodden on. Their names were Federer and Nadal. And for them he launched himself in a new impulse with great force. He bet Djokovic to go for the records of his greatest rivals, who were launched in his particular race for being the best in history.
The main objective, the Grand Slams. There is the Serbian with 21, one above Federer, one below Nadal. But he has knocked down other numbers that seemed impossible along the way, such as the 310 weeks of the Swiss as number 1; Djokovic already has 373 and aspires to several more in 2023. And he also reaches another record held by the one from Basel: the six crowns in the Masters Cup (2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2022). Another peak reached.
And he reaches it with an impeccable week in Turin. Victories in all their matches: Tsitsipas, Rublev, Medvedev, Fritz. And with a final also impeccable. against a Casper Ruud rookie in these fights who shows more fang as the weeks go by and reaches new challenges, but before this Djokovic it is still too little for him.
And that was accepted by the Serbian in the previous one who felt tired, with heavy legs, but the title was well worth making the last effort. The match against the Norwegian was very even in a first set that opted for those things that have made Nadal, Federer and Djokovic the best three in history. That ability to surprise, to bite, to attack in an instant, a spark of genius that joins the trembling of the rival who has not yet trodden so much on that wire that means the end of the set.
And there was hardly any more party. Because Ruud’s strategy at the back of the track no longer worked. And Djokovic was emboldened that the Turin crowd had more applause for the Norwegian than for him. He roared to the crowd when he was finally able to break away in the game with a break that made it 4-1. Ruud, great season, kept up with two more games; but it was for Djokovic the applause, and an end of the course that heralds much more of him in 2023.
He has only been able to play eleven tournaments due to the restrictions for those not vaccinated against the coronavirus, but he has won five: Masters 1,000 in Rome, Wimbledon, Tel Aviv, Nur Sultan and this Masters Cup. There are 42 wins for 7 losses. He started the week as 8 in the world, but will rise to 5 on Monday. And with many months of next 2023 to add points and places.
