Here is Djokovic's record before Wimbledon:
| Tournament | Result | Lost to | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qatar | Semifinal | Agut (24) | |||||
| AO | Winner | - | |||||
| Indian Wells | 3rd rd | Kohlschreiber (39) | |||||
| Miami | 4th rd | Agut (25) | |||||
| Monte Carlo | Quartefinal | Medvedev (14) | |||||
| Madrid | Winner | - | |||||
| Rome | Final | Nadal (2) | |||||
| FO | Semfinal | Thiem (4) |
Point: Struggling MIGHTILY against some '38 year-old' grandpa who not only extended you to FIVE freaking sets but also held TWO Championship points you were OUTRIGHT lucky to 'evade' - WASN'T a freaking coincidence.
Heck, even before facing Federer, Djokovic wasn't flying through the draw:
He had a 7-5 against Kohlschreiber in the opening round.
Dropped a set to some Hurkacz in second round.
Dropped a set to Agut in semifinal.
Wanna push it?
How about this:
Could this be Djoiovic's last Slam?
He may be 32 but Nadal and now Federer may have ensured, he is a VERY old 32 - specially as long as Nadal and Federer are breathing.
The trajectory he is on since the beginning of the year does not FULLY raise his status high enough to make him 'deserving' of holding two of three Slams for the season.
Deduction: The five set drama @ Wimbledon was MORE a product of Djokovic 'fading' precipitously than Federer producing some magical form. Granted Federer's form was great but that belonged to what's called the 'raising the game to match the opponent' syndrome.
Additionally, Federer had WAY too much at stake to leave him with no other option but to engage the 'last' gear - within the conditions he was operating under.
Besides, Djokovic was near-unanimously picked to win the tournament. That implies NOT getting humiliated in the final by some senior citizen. Heck, forget that, how about being plain lucky?
Here are the match stats:
| Djokvoic | Category | Federer | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Aces | 25 | |||||
| 62 | First serve % in | 63 | |||||
| 3/8 (38%) | Break pts won | 7/13 (54%) | |||||
| 54 | Winners | 94 | |||||
| 52 | Unforced errors | 62 | |||||
| 204 | Total points won | 218 | |||||
|
5623.5 m
|
Distance covered |
5810.3 m
|
|||||
|
13.3 m
|
Distance covered/pt |
13.8 m
|
Combine above stats with his showing this year and in the VERY LEAST - you have to conclude he is not moving north - title 'rich' portfolio notwithstanding.
Bottom line: Federer was 'emboldened' - as if he needed that motivation to the one(s) he was already loaded with - with Djokovic leaving the door open repeatedly - resulting in elevation of Federer's game high enough to appear as if Federer was the 'one' when in fact it was Djokovic who was NOT the 'one'.
Translation: Djokovic better produce 'magnificently' @ hard courts this season to justify the title catch or else the train is sailing in some other direction - fast.
Despite all that, Djokvoic, however, has achieved the following - indisputably:
Federer's GOAT pedestal - already in shambles - is now shaking uncontrollably.
Nadal is now forced to stop 'picking' but rather start 'staring' at his behind LOT more than he has in the past. And that includes Masters (34-33).
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