The fiery star's march into history may force his critics into an uncomfortable situation: give him what he deserves.
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At first glance, this year's Wimbledon tennis tournament seems to have weakened after the coronavirus pandemic caused the suspension of the world's most famous tennis tournament in 2020.
There is no Rafael Nadal. After a crushing defeat to Novak Djokovic in the French Open semi-finals, Nadal withdrew from the Wimbledon Open on the grounds that he needed rehabilitation.
There is no Osaka Naomi. She announced last week that she will continue to take vacations to take care of her mental health.
Roger Federer will step on the center court again, but he is almost 40 years old, but the rust from his knee injury is still trembling. Over time, Serena Williams' chances of winning again have also increased.
But Djokovic will be there, just emerging from Roland Garros' victory and aiming for the record book. Winning the Wimbledon Tennis Open starting next Monday will give him his 20th Grand Slam title, eventually tying him with Federer and Nadal. This will also keep him alive in his pursuit of winning four Grand Slams in one year, something that has not been achieved by men in 52 years.
He is now sitting on the cliff of history, which has created a bondage for many of his stubborn critics: ignoring and mocking his exciting parade, or finally let the passionate and efficient Serbs get the treatment they deserve.
This is why haters and those who are not moved by his ascent should reconsider Djokovic.
In a sport full of aesthetics, which relies on the amazing points and ballet moves of the most outstanding practitioners, Djokovic's streamlined approach is as divisive as Roscoe's color blocks.
Federer has the talent of Rembrandt: all those baroque swings and elegant artistic techniques. Nadal's circular shot on the body is reminiscent of a heavyweight boxer's left uppercut.
But Djokovic's game has its beauty. Never before has a top player been so flexible, able to twist and bend on every surface, and transform a completely crazy defensive sprint into a sudden offense. Djokovic has perfected the basic core of the game more than anyone in tennis history-preparation, balance, weight transfer, footwork.
He is a minimalist, unhurried and unconstrained by showing off talent. Is there a compelling aesthetic? you bet.
There are too many attacks on Djokovic on the Internet. They said he was a machine. robot. It is nothing more than the widest squash wall in the world.
Yes, he won... won, won. In the past ten years, no one has done more in the tennis field. But there is nothing to predict how Djokovic will do it. In the 2019 Australian Open finals, he defeated Nadal in three straight sets, with a full-scale knockdown-a mixture of strength, defense and dexterity.
There is also a vivid display of courage, perseverance and endurance. His recent Roland Garros championship was for this. But also remember to win the Australian Open in the 6-hour five-set marathon against Nadal in 2012. Of course, there is also a reversal to defeat Federer from two match points in the epic Wimbledon final in 2019.
Don't forget that in 2010 and 2011, Djokovic rose from the ashes twice, defeating Federer in the semifinals of the US Open, beating two match points on both occasions. In 2011, Djokovic not only returned from two sets behind, but also saved his first match point. His forehand counter attack quickly surpassed his opponent and became a clean winner. Born.
Federer quickly languished, losing every remaining game, as if disgusted by his opponent's bold behavior.
If you think that the deep hobby of escape like Houdini is boring, then you may not be convinced.
Yes, he can explode, smash the racket, and bark at himself, his coach, referee, and companions like a grumpy kid. In his grumpy 2020 U.S. Open, he angrily hit the ball and hit a lineman, causing him to miss the game.
Last year, during one of the worst periods of the pandemic, he made the most careless attempts to host competitions in Serbia and Croatia. After he and other top players contracted the coronavirus, the exhibition was cancelled.
Djokovic proved himself to be too human in the best, worst and most exploratory way. He did not hide it. Although there are countless episodes of him raging or deafening on the court—just as he said in April that he didn't think he should be vaccinated against the coronavirus on the ATP Tour—his journey has always been open to the public.
His flaws, as well as his openness to reveal his inner life, make him more interesting than his nearly perfect and more restrained peers.
For many years, men’s tennis seemed to have only one opponent: Federer and Nadal. Two great champions, two very different styles.
Their lasting connection determines this era of this sport. Then Djokovic broke in and bullied him. He is in the third round and is different from Federer and Nadal in almost all aspects, including that he is not from the wealthy Switzerland or Spain, but many fans from Eastern European countries can't find it on the map.
For those who hate him, all this is a bitter pill, and they must swallow it often.
Djokovic now has the upper hand in a head-on confrontation with his opponent. Since 2011, he has won 18 Grand Slam titles, 7 more than Nadal and 14 more than Federer.
After winning this year's Australian Open, a newspaper headline summed up the disturbing truth about tennis: Djokovic may be the greatest of all.
If a resting Federer can inspire the old lawn magic, maybe we will get the championship everyone wants: the heartbreaking rematch of the 2019 All England Club Finals.
Novak Djokovic (Novak Djokovic) will find himself in a familiar place, facing a noisy crowd, hoping that Federer will win, but also want to see the Serbian collapse in failure.
If recent history holds true, Djokovic will once again raise the championship trophy, which is yet another condemnation of the insistent who refuses to accept one of the most exciting championships in all sports.