Novak Djokovic: At The End It Was Like My Spirit Left My Body And I Was Just Observing

I am not really sure a calendar Grand Slam will have any more meaning but for the fact that it would mean 6 in a row. I remember some math work when Tiger and Serena got their non-Calendar Slams. No difference in degree of difficulty or odds of doing so. Just arbitrary, that it must start the succession of 4 very difficult to get trophies at the 1st Major of the year.

This name came up back when it was amateurs and there were only two much shorter seasons, because travel was more primitive, took longer. People inc some players and officials, had other jobs. Now golf and tennis really doin’t have seasons. Year round with a month or two off here and there.

Both golf and tennis allow credit for a streak extending across years. Is – This – Not – A – Streak??

The journalist spin should be Djokovic. Grand Slam winner over 2 years, Career Slam winner, the setter of a another ATP rankings points record by winning the FO. And earlier, he of course went over 100 million in prize money, had his birthday, passed Connors in straight QFs at Slams reached with 28, passed 100 continuous weeks as #1 and 200 weeks career #1.

At this point, he could probably get 5 million a vial for his sperm from very wealthy women and couples to make new Djokerlings. But I think he’s rather see more babies of his own. I think Rafa, Andy, and Fed could make money off of it. Roger’s would cost 40% more than the other guys, massively swelling his ego. Until he realized it was a two for one product offer.

June 5th, 2016 at 7:44 pm

this is called transcendence ;)
i think it’s happened to me once or twice
but only when i’ve imbibed some spirits. lol
seriously happy that i don’t have to get up at 5:00 am next week
woot!

June 5th, 2016 at 9:52 pm

Considering the high stakes that hinged on the outcome of the historic match, it is no wonder that Novak developed goose bumps and probably explains his rout in the first set when he was missing easy shots by either shanking them straight into the net or in other cases tended to over hit them. But, he came on his own from the start of the second set and found his rhythm where his nerves slowly subsided and he came to his usual self taking the bull by its horn and started to find his range of shots which proved to be the undoing of Andy.

And again in the end of the match when he was two breaks up and was serving for the match, the nerves yet again caught up with him naturally and he found difficulty in closing out the match where he squandered one of the breaks with his passive play and quite disturbingly for him, Andy came close to breaking once again. But then Novak retained his composure in the net and was just content in keeping the ball in play hoping that Andy will make the mistake and he did succumb to over indulgence enabling Novak to rewrite the history books.

June 6th, 2016 at 2:16 am

If someone wins 5 in a row what is that called?

June 6th, 2016 at 10:58 am

@ Chris Ford: Not to take anything away from Nole, but I do think the degree of difficulty is higher for the calendar slam, both mentally and physically. Should Nole win Wimbledon, which I hope he does, the pressure going into the USO will be insane, definitely on a different level entirely than what he faced going into this year’s French Open. Also physically, I think it is more impressive to win them all in back to back a single season. I am 50 and have never seen a man do it, so I am totally rooting for him.

June 6th, 2016 at 2:33 pm

djangom that’s called something that no man has ever done in the modern era.

How a GOAT is born.

June 6th, 2016 at 2:50 pm

Joe Montana’s kids are mediocre football players. Ultimately, what made Montana great was his composure in difficult times, which is probably not passed down through genes. I think Djoker’s ability to win a match that represented both a career slam and a wraparound slam reflects his mental toughness more than his physical prowess. It’s obviously nearly impossible to pull off, given that it hasn’t happened in 47 years, but that to me just reinforces the mental natre of the challenge.

The calendar slam is an extra degree of difficulty because it’s got an additional condition (a very particular window), so the odds of doing it are even tougher as compared to a wraparound slam. But in terms of reflecting dominance over the tour? Calendar and non-calendar are equivalent.

June 6th, 2016 at 3:19 pm

@lyle nubbins and chrisford – consider Serena last year. She already had a “Serena Slam” after Wimbledon. But there was a lot of hype and buzz at the US Open (ticket prices soared for the women’s final right after she won Wimbledon in anticipation of it). So I think there is a lot more pressure and attention to it. But some of that might also have been due to Serena trying to win it at her home slam, which is not going to be the case for Novak. And regardless of whether he gets a calendar year slam or not, what he has done the last 2 years has been absolutely incredible.

June 6th, 2016 at 4:31 pm

for nole fans: an eloquent piece on novak’s tennis:

“He will slide, stretch and flick the ball, as he did against Murray, so that it scrapes over the net and lands cross-court. On a line, of course. ”

http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/is-djokovic-playing-a-tennis-we-have-never-seen

June 6th, 2016 at 6:47 pm

If Novak wins Wimbledon, he would have won 5 slams in a row, and it’s much more difficult than the calendar GS, which becomes totally irrelevant.

How can 4 tournaments be more difficult, whenever you start, than 5 tournaments in a row?

June 6th, 2016 at 9:02 pm

By the simple fact that there is less opportunities to do so.

Hardly rocket science.

June 6th, 2016 at 9:07 pm

@Elina:

I hope you didn’t answered to my post…

June 6th, 2016 at 9:14 pm

Great podcast for Nolefans:

http://www.mindtheracket.com/2016/06/episode-17-roland-garros-finals/

The second part is about Novak.

June 6th, 2016 at 9:14 pm

Technically looking you have less chances for calendar slam than for noncalendar one. If you play 10 years you have only 10 goes at calendar slam, but 36 goes at noncalendar slam, based on playing 40 slams. Now, to win five in raw should be few goes less than 36, but more than 10 goes that you only have for calendar one.
How is my maths, does it make any sense?

June 6th, 2016 at 9:25 pm

Just to finish, but game wise it is as hard to win four noncalendar ones as four calendar one, winning five in a row is even harder. The difference is only that you have a chance on more attempts for noncalendar and five in a row.

June 6th, 2016 at 9:28 pm

Anyone thinking/saying/acting like Djokovic holding all 4 majors at the same time isn’t the single greatest achievement in tennis history is either delusional or blinded by hate or simply doesn’t comprehend what just happened.

June 6th, 2016 at 9:34 pm

@WB:

To win 5 in a row, you have to win 35 matches in a row. On current form, tennisabstract, using the JRank, gives Novak about 30% of chances to win a slam. It means that winning 5 in a row in 3 times harder than win 4 in a row.

June 6th, 2016 at 9:57 pm

To say that winning the calendar slam is harder than the djokoslam is just like saying that winning Wimbledon is harder than winning the FO.

Just ask Novak.

It’s a question of marketing.

June 6th, 2016 at 10:03 pm

@WB

Didn’t see your last post. Sorry.

June 6th, 2016 at 10:06 pm

thanks mat4: i enjoyed that. there’s also a lot of great commentary on murray in the latter half of that podcasts, putting his career in perspective. his fans will enjoy it too.

June 6th, 2016 at 10:15 pm

For me, winning four majors consecutively makes the conquest of Grand Slam complete. Trying to undermine this extraordinary achievement by implying that it isn’t tantamount to a Calendar Slam equivalent to what Rod Laver and Donald Budge achieved is only arbitrary thinking at best and may not cut much ice. With this, Novak has dispelled even the slightest doubts that he belongs in the column of pantheon of the illustrious select list of the GREATEST Tennis players that have played this game.

Afterall, years, months and days are the mere invention of mankind.

What Novak has managed to achieved in this professional competitive era borders on the incredulous and I do not think It is really fair to compare this achievement with what happened in the 1960s and early 1970s when the game was completely different and on a different time scale.

June 7th, 2016 at 12:49 am

WB explains it very well.

Nole slam much more impressive than Laver’s open era slam and five in a row for 13 is insane.

How a G0AT is born.

June 7th, 2016 at 5:31 am

@Elina:

No, WB didn’t explain it well. You have 1/4 possibility to win 4 in a row starting with the AO than starting with any of the grand slam tournaments. But the statistical possibility to win 4 in a row starting with the AO is the same than winning four in a row starting with Wimbledon.

It’s just a convention.

Speaking of the “Serena slam” is a nonsense, since she has won 5 in a row last year, which is much more difficult. In a normal world, where people think, nobody would care that she didn’t win the “Grand Slam”, but they would emphasize that she didn’t manage to win 6 slams in row, which is an extraordinary feat. And 5 in a row was an extraordinary feat too.

June 7th, 2016 at 5:56 am

Mathematically, I stand correct: if Novak could by chance manage to win Wimbledon too, he would achieve something more difficult than a “Grand Slam”.

It’s a bit just like the 29th of February. Yes, it happens just once in four year, but it’s just another day.

June 7th, 2016 at 5:58 am

Anyway, I feel that we are a bit over the top now.

We are all elated by Novak’s victory, but let’s not forget that nothing is given.

June 7th, 2016 at 6:01 am

@Mat4

I hope you didn’t answered to my post…

Mathematically there are less opportunities to win four in a row within a single calendar year.

Is it more impressive to do so? Definitely not.

Is it less likely? Definitely.

Nole has as much argument to being G0AT as any other player if not more.

Ok sweetie?

June 7th, 2016 at 6:08 am

Excuse me mat4. I explain it perfectly well in simple words, you start from 1 and go until 40 n ten years space, but you are becaming typical Serbian,”why simple when we can do it complicated way”, like Nole serving twice for the championship against Andy and almost blew it. Lucky I watched replay, I would have died if I watched it live, or I would bash my wife and kids and next door’s wife…
I don’t see reason for argument when elina is supporting Nole’s cause?
BTW, I went on that forum that you pointed us at after FO, and found Rafa fans (it looks like Rafa majority forum) much more fair towards Nole than Roger fans, except few of them, like that “Nadalista” b$tch or whatever..

June 7th, 2016 at 6:33 am

Exactly. WB gets it. Well explained.

June 7th, 2016 at 7:23 am

@WB:

That’s the influence of my wife, I guess…

June 7th, 2016 at 7:51 am

JJ Vallejo rocks!

June 7th, 2016 at 9:15 am

Elina, if it is “definitely less likely” for one to win a calendar slam than to win a non-calendar four straight slams, doesn’t it make it a calendar grand slam more difficult than any 4 straight slams and therfore more impressive? While four straight slams is definitely impressive, the glory of winning all in one calendar year is a more celebrated accomplishment.

Lose one major and that ends your Grand Slam dream for the whole year. To have 4 straight, each and every major event keeps that option alive.

I am sure Djovokic fans would be more thrilled if Djokovic wins the Grand Slam this year. I, a Federer fan, am joining you in wishing Djokovic can do that. And I also hope he can even add an Olympic gold to that. I want a male Golden Slam champion to match Steffi.

June 7th, 2016 at 9:24 am

More celebrated, only because it hasn’t been done since Laver and media would have you believe.

More impressive? Still no. Not in my opinion when it only has to do with when the year begins and ends and nothing to do with tennis.

If Nole wins Wimbledon for FIVE including a channel slam, then that is much more impressive to me than a calendar slam (but the media won’t play it out that way).

June 7th, 2016 at 10:25 am

The Grand Slam debate, calendar vs, non-calendar 365, is worth hashing out, even if it was largely resolved with the Tiger Woods Slam.
Elina gets it. Mat 4 I think does not. The accomplishment of winning the 4 in a row from any starting point is the same. You can add arbitrary qualifiers the player has nothing to do with that make it harder to achieve (Must play at least 2 left handers in Slam Finals) (Must start at the AO and no other Slam, despite ATP rules that credit streaks spanning years) (Each player faced in the 4 semi and in the Finals must be rated in Top 10).

Arbitrary things, having nothing to do with the feat.

Which is fine for idle debate and quibbling, but as in many such side arguments, diverts many from seeing the forest for 4 big trees.

All 4 Slams is, is a statistical marker of a great calendar or rolling 365 day year.
I would say you cannot compare many things across 50 years time in a fast changing sport like pro tennis, but you can look at the level of competition and the amount of success at ALL sports events entered in that calendar or rolling 365 day year.
In 1969 Laver competed against Australians, and a handful of less accomplished Americans and Spanish clay court specialists Many who were still amateurs.
He won roughly half the big events he entered, inc. the 4 Slams.
Djokovic competes against a global talent pool.
Along with the Slams, he holds title to the Championship at O2, 5 of 9 Masters, and made the Finals in 8 of 9 Masters.

June 7th, 2016 at 12:30 pm

A Grand Slam has a time constraint unlike a 4-consecutive slam title which a has a wider window. That makes the real Grand Slam harder to achieve and therefore, the greater accomplishment.

June 7th, 2016 at 12:46 pm

When Rafa was trying to do the same thing in 2011 by winning the AO, Laver himself said the true GS is doing all 4 in the same year ….

June 7th, 2016 at 1:03 pm

Laver’s Open Era calendar Grand Slam was on Clay and grass (no hard court).

The wider window can be argued either way. A player can be in peak form for a shorter period of time from Jan-Sept for example.

The true GS is doing all 4 in the same year by convention only.

One is no more impressive than the other, it’s just less likely because there is less opportunity to do so having little to do with tennis skill and talent.

This will all be completely moot when Nole wins his 5th in a row as it will top any kind of slam – calendar or otherwise.

cf1 gets it.

June 7th, 2016 at 1:12 pm

Markus, mat4, Willow and the GS master gets it.
Church of Novak at it again.

June 7th, 2016 at 1:14 pm

elina,
Nole winning 5 in a row would be great. A new record in the books for sure.

June 7th, 2016 at 1:21 pm

i’m not weighing in on which is greater or whatever, because i don’t care. what novak did is remarkable to me and that’s it. i’d just like to add that laver himself has shown immense respect and support for novak and his achievements. earlier this year he said this:

“I don’t think you put one of those two above the other when you look at their performances,” Laver said to ESPN.com via phone. “You know what Roger’s record is. But the way that Djokovic has been playing over the last year or so, I would say that Djokovic and Federer are equals.

“When you look at Djokovic’s performances and his results, you just have to say, ‘Hey, this guy’s unbelievable, and how can you look past him when discussing who is the best ever?'”

and he also made a video personally congratulating novak on holding all four slams and wishing him luck in his effort to win more.

so anyhow, whether you agree or disagree, for me, it was lovely to see laver being so kind.

i still prefer stan smith shoes though. ;)

June 7th, 2016 at 1:26 pm

Skeezer, just watch how the Nole fanatics rejoice when Novak achieves the Grand Slam, or how dejected they will feel if he fails this year. These fans who cannot accept that the Grand Slam is the biggest achievement in tennis are in denial right now. I feel sure in saying this, they truly wish that Djokovic wins the Grand Slam. They know it is better than a non-calendar 4-slam titles. They just refuse to say so and are waiting until Djokivic does it.

June 7th, 2016 at 1:31 pm

actually many novak fans i know are very satisfied. some have said to me he could retire right now, and they’d be happy. the french open was like novak’s white whale and him winning it was all some of us wanted, mainly because HE wanted it so much (at least that’s how i felt). the fact that it happened to be this year – the year he could also complete the career slam and hold the full set of slams – was just a fluke! after all, he contended for this title in 2012, 2014, and 2015.

from what i have seen it is the media hyping the idea of the calendar slam, in part because no one since courier in 1992 has won the first two slams, so even the possibility of achieving it hasn’t been around for over 20 years. when they asked novak about it, his first point was that he was just appreciating the french title itself. and then he said “of course anything is possible in life” or something like that. so i think winning the french was his goal.

in fact, i am inclined to think he may experience a little letdown now. the 3 times he won wimbledon he lost a heartbreaker at the french, so he might not be as motivated there this year, i don’t know. others have said he’ll swing more freely. as for me, he won the french!! O.M.G. finally. anything else is gravy.

except for cincy
and maybe a gold medal ;)

a guy’s gotta have goals.

June 7th, 2016 at 1:47 pm

This is not a new debate. The arguments were well settled during the Tiger Woods Slam.
And again, this should not obscure the larger argument of the totality of accomplishment for Novak Djokovic beyond just the Slams this past 365 days. Even without obtaining the 5th Slam or 6th at the USO and moving the goalposts on Djokovic yet again – he is at 16,895 points, the largest ATP ranking point total ever. He got there by having won most or made the Final almost always, in EVERY BIG EVENT he contested. Beat more Top 10 players to get there than any person in Open Era history.

I do understand the reluctance non-Djoker fans have to acknowledge not just the non-calendar year Grand Slam, but the domination at other tournaments – because of fear the GOAT argument might veer from the Slam Count is Everything approach started by Sampras fans in the late 90s.

If he holds at Wimbledon, and odds of course are against it by the raw probabilities, he has a chance to boost his point total yet higher at two Masters he didn’t win in 2015. One, Cincinnati, just like for the previous two years, would complete his first ever in the Open Era, career Masters Sweep.
And there is this Olympics thingy coming, a chance for more glory and filling out his bona fides as an all-time great.

The run he has been on the last year and a half is phenomenal, unprecedented in pro tennis.

June 7th, 2016 at 2:00 pm

You have to think the Olympics is a major goal. His performance 4 years ago was abysmal.

June 7th, 2016 at 2:03 pm

bbb, i thought it was amazing how novak played so well through his olympic draw last time, which was not an easy one, and then at the very end of it, he kind of lost the plot. mind you andy was just playing excellent at the time, and delpo was at his peak too.

June 7th, 2016 at 2:12 pm

Novak is not even my favourite player but credit where credit is due.

Of course Nole fans want to see it continue but what he has just done (regardless of what anyone thinks about the significance of the calendar slam) is unprecedented in the last 47 years!

Only those clinging on to the past would attempt to minimize this achievement as has been done by calling it his ‘career slam’ and halfway to the Calendar slam whereas countless players and coaches who know how hard this is to do have gone on record for congratulating him on his enormous and historic feat.

June 7th, 2016 at 2:24 pm

Markus – “These fans who cannot accept that the Grand Slam is the biggest achievement in tennis are in denial right now. I feel sure in saying this, they truly wish that Djokovic wins the Grand Slam. They know it is better than a non-calendar 4-slam titles. They just refuse to say so and are waiting until Djokivic does it.”
=====================
Nice try Markus, I smell a whiff of desperation in your argument. Forest for the trees, man. Beyond that, as Elina argues, 5 in a row would capsize the “Only 4 in a row, and only those 4 in a row starting in January, is the biggest achievement” camp’s case.
And as I mentioned, Slams are only a piece of the performance of a player over a years time. Look at the whole forest, not the 4 trees you can see. Where did Novaks 16,895 points come from? And tennis no longer has a “season” neatly demarcated by years, as it did in amateur days. So saying that a Grand Slam streak is exempted from rules on records for other winning streaks that can cross years, and must be “only within the calendar of one year, is specious.

June 7th, 2016 at 2:25 pm

Yes, Jane. He’s mentally a completely different player now. I hate that he has developed a tendency not to close matches out the first time he’s serving for it, but on the other hand, he tends to win those matches eventually, and so it just boosts his confidence the next time around.

June 7th, 2016 at 2:25 pm

it’s tough to sit through that drama, bbb, isn’t it, gulp? and players must be aware of it, i am sure. but both at us open last year and french open this year, luckily novak had insurance breaks in both 4th sets. he probably even knows he needs those and plans ahead, ha ha, especially on this occasion, which was momentous for him to close out.

June 7th, 2016 at 3:02 pm

A very timely video editorial on the reason for the downplaying of the Nole Slam…

Djokovic overshadowed by Federer, Nadal

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=16011483

June 7th, 2016 at 3:23 pm

Cult is at it again, it took them two days to recover from the shock of Nole winning ultimate prize, four in a row, something their cult leader was never able to do nor he will be.

June 7th, 2016 at 4:14 pm

Still not a Grand Slam if not won in the same year. You can rationalize all you want but the truth is you would not be truly satisfied unless in the same year. I think Navratilova won 6 majors in a row but unfortunately they were overlaps and did not constitute a true Grand Slam. Great achievement, right? Unfortunately, when you look at that limited list of Grand Slam winners, you won’t see her name there. Admit it, it will still bother you if Nole does that get 4 in one year. Be honest, now.

June 7th, 2016 at 4:39 pm

It is a Grand Slam. And IF he manage to wins Wimbledon, it would be more important that winning the “true Grand slam”, because 5 in a row is more difficult to achieve.

Anyway, Grand slam, Djokoslam, Noleslam, whatever… it hasn’t been done in tennis since I was a wee kid, and probably — I hope not to be right — won’t be achieved again in my lifetime.

Matt Zemek wrote a great article about the “golden era of tennis” we witnessed. Like him, let’s acknowledge the valour of the all the champions who define it.

This said by a Rafa, Andy, and Fed hater, single minded Nole fanatic, member of the Cult, etc., etc.

June 7th, 2016 at 4:53 pm

Those cult members are so desperate that they don’t even recognize that it is called Grand Slam, noncalendar Grand Slam, at least they can check the facts before they post.

June 7th, 2016 at 5:01 pm

I was not minimizing Djokovic achievement at all. I have given him high praise in my earlier post and I even wished for him to win the Grand Slam this year, yes even that even more elusive Golden Slam that only Steffi Graf has achieved. But for people to keep insisting that a non-calendar 4 straight slam titles is as great an achievement as a Grand Slam, I would think that they are in denial, dishonest of simple weak in the head. You have forced me to say it, a non-calendar collection of 4 slam titles is a Pseudo Grand Slam. That’s why it goes by different names like Djoko Slam, Serena Slam, Tiger Slam.

Now let us just hope that Djokovic wins the next

June 7th, 2016 at 5:02 pm

I was not minimizing Djokovic achievement at all. I have given him high praise in my earlier post and I even wished for him to win the Grand Slam this year, yes even that even more elusive Golden Slam that only Steffi Graf has achieved. But for people to keep insisting that a non-calendar 4 straight slam titles is as great an achievement as a Grand Slam, I would think that they are in denial, dishonest of simple weak in the head. You have forced me to say it, a non-calendar collection of 4 slam titles is a Pseudo Grand Slam. That’s why it goes by different names like Djoko Slam, Serena Slam, Tiger Slam.

Now let us just hope that Djokovic wins the next

June 7th, 2016 at 5:02 pm

…two majors because I think those who insist any 4 straight slams is the same as a Grand Slam can stop. I believe they are simple mentally bracing themselves Djokovic fails to complete it.

June 7th, 2016 at 5:04 pm

…two majors so that those who insist any 4 straight slams is the same as a Grand Slam can stop. I believe they are simply mentally bracing themselves if Djokovic fails to complete it.

There, that’s grammatically better.

June 7th, 2016 at 5:06 pm

Markus,
Re; your praises for Novak. I’ve read them. Problem with the Church of Novak is you have to be a worshipper And no one else. Every match win = GOAT status talk. Disagree? Your a putz.

June 7th, 2016 at 5:25 pm

What Djokovic has done is officially called Non-calendar Grand Slam. Whether it is more or less than Calendar Grand Slam can be discussed, but there are no dispute that this is achievement significantly above Career Grand Slam. I personally like that Djokovic’s success is being downplayed by mainstream media as it pumps him up so we could be lucky to witness double golden calendar grand slam or something along these lines.

June 7th, 2016 at 5:29 pm

@Skeezer:

There’s no church of Novak, at least that I know. Some of us were designated like the Cult of Novak, I guess…

Just on another thread, I paid homage to all the great champions of the last decade and more, and tried to describe the challenges they had to face. I never underestimated them, and if I wanted to be selfish and one minded, it would be counter productive: just like Novak and Rafa are the pillars of Roger’s greatness, Roger and Rafa are the pillars of Novak greatness (and Roger and Novak are the pillars of Rafa’s greatness).

My post was — yes — an short answer to a point Markus raised, but also the sequel of a previous debate. I didn’t say he was trying to invalidate Novak’s successes. It had more to do with maths.

The last sentence was written because I was accused by a “Nolefan” that doesn’t write here any more — but (s)he has perhaps changed moniker once again — to be a paranoid hater. Just letting it go.

Sorry Markus for any misunderstanding.

June 7th, 2016 at 5:39 pm

This was published in January after Nole did his demolition job in AO SF, I will keep reposting it every now and then, it might help Fed7ards to come to their senses, you never know:
http://metro.co.uk/2016/01/28/why-novak-djokovic-has-overtaken-roger-federer-as-the-greatest-tennis-player-of-all-time-5649557/

June 7th, 2016 at 6:10 pm

^^^ and the article was written before Nole won another three masters and non calendar Grand Slam.

June 7th, 2016 at 6:17 pm

^^^ and I love this part:

“Three came against Mark Philippoussis, Marat Safin and Marcos Baghdatis, who were ranked 48th, 86th and 54th in the world respectively when Federer beat them in a final.”

You can add 35.5 years old Agassi those ones;)

June 7th, 2016 at 6:20 pm

+1 to this.
I pick blinded by hate, delusional and simply doesn’t comprehend. In that order.

Ben Pronin Says:
Anyone thinking/saying/acting like Djokovic holding all 4 majors at the same time isn’t the single greatest achievement in tennis history is either delusional or blinded by hate or simply doesn’t comprehend what just happened.

June 7th, 2016 at 7:05 pm

Thanks, WB. I have seen that article before, but forgot to bookmark it. The author should update it to add the non-calendar year Grand Slam. On 3 different surfaces. First ever to do it!

My favorite part is below (from “6. Always the villain”). This is the main reason (of many) why I am a No1e fan. I don’t know of anybody who does it time and time again. He is mental strength personified.

“as he always does, Djokovic keeps his cool, ignores the crowd, and wins the tournament. Djokovic faces scenes like this at nearly every tournament he plays, and it only serves to make his achievements even more impressive.”

June 7th, 2016 at 7:26 pm

I am good with 12, with 4 in a row.
When he was at 6, I thought 12 would be a great number.
What he’s done since then has been … there are no words!

June 7th, 2016 at 7:31 pm

Anymore is just grav- … wait … not my taste… too aristocratic and entitled.

Anymore, and I’d be even more happy for Nole!

June 7th, 2016 at 7:46 pm

Here’s another article… Enjoy. I sure did!

http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/06/08/why-novak-djokovic-is-now-the-goat/

June 7th, 2016 at 8:24 pm

jun, now i feel bad for what i said above, but i do like the way you put it, so i’ll echo your sentiments too:

“Anymore, and I’d be even more happy for Nole!”

and wog boy, i am not sure i read that article before. very complimentary. thanks for sharing.

June 7th, 2016 at 9:09 pm

Thanks Jun, I enjoyed it too.

June 7th, 2016 at 9:11 pm

My pleasure jane.

June 7th, 2016 at 9:15 pm

@jane, LOL!

Has ‘mass’ started? (We’re in church, right?)

June 7th, 2016 at 9:40 pm

Silence means yes, normally. So I’ll do intro prayers …

June 7th, 2016 at 9:42 pm

“What do you do when some idol calls you a ‘joke’?”

Be humble and call him the greatest. (That should shut him up hopefully. If it doesn’t work, go to Plan B).

June 7th, 2016 at 9:52 pm

“What do you do when some idol’s worshippers call you a ‘fake’?”

Be humble and tell them you understand. (That should shut them up, hopefully. If not, go again to Plan B.)

June 7th, 2016 at 9:54 pm

“What do you do when some idol’s worshippers celebrate your failures and downplay your achievements?”

Be humble and solicit assistance from others (like ball kids!). (They’ll probably sue your ass for child abuse but don’t worry. I got your back – we still have Plan B).

June 7th, 2016 at 10:01 pm

“But, but Father, what is Plan B?”

June 7th, 2016 at 10:23 pm

Be N-ice to others.
Be O-ne’s self.
Be L-oving and caring.
Be E-ver so gracious, in victory and in defeat.

If all else fails, be gluten-free.

Next mass will cover the mystery surrounding the biggest revelation of all – 4-IN-A-ROW.

June 7th, 2016 at 10:39 pm

Count me for the next mass, newborn believer..

June 7th, 2016 at 11:04 pm

Jun…….overkill!! 😠😠😠

June 7th, 2016 at 11:08 pm

We get the picture!! Lol

June 7th, 2016 at 11:08 pm

Keep going June, it doesn’t happen every year, last time it happened was in 1969.;)

June 7th, 2016 at 11:20 pm

jun, i’ll be there next sunday. ;)

June 7th, 2016 at 11:36 pm

I wasnt belittling Novaks achievement either as i said at the top of the thread, how amazing it was to do the four in a row, but thats what hes done, not 4 in a year, and he was also quite possibly now the GOAT, and i also think he might possibly do all four in a year now too, i just think the whole things been beaten to the ground now, no belittling quite amazing, but it is what it is 4 in a row ….

June 8th, 2016 at 1:32 am

“…but it is what it is 4 in a row….”

..and how many people won 4 in a row?

June 8th, 2016 at 2:46 am

WB,
That other site is pure venom most of the time. There are a few decent posters but then, there are those who hate Nole’s guts. I know them well ;). Right Elina? ;)

June 8th, 2016 at 4:58 am

@Danica:

I read often TT a few years ago, and sometimes had a look at the comments — I even commented once or twice as “Marlin” or “Merlin”, I am not sure now, “mat” being already taken — I remember you were there as “danica”, fighting for Novak the same way you do here, with sensible and respectful posts.

June 8th, 2016 at 5:32 am

@Danica

I see that all the other posters followed Ricky Dimon on his new site, after a brief stay at T-x, where they introduced their manners and chased many old, sensible posters. Hopefully, most of them left, while those who stayed were OK. Many Rafans went with them, since most of TT posters were Rafans.

But there were also a few fake “Nolefans”. I remember especially a provoc under the moniker of “jamesNovakDjokovicfan”, and I believe he landed here and remained some time. He was never a Nolefan, but used such an identity to turn the ire of the masses against true Nolefans.

It seemed to be a quite ordinary game there: using more than one moniker, playing little games with your “friends”, trying to learn a few personal things about them (through mails, perhaps?) to abuse them even more.

June 8th, 2016 at 5:42 am

@Danica:

And yes, there are churches, cults and altars on T-x: the Church of Roger, the Church of Novak, the Church of the one-handed backhand, but overall we live and interact well. A few little disputes a year, but nothing serious.

Sometimes, like in this thread, we argue while repeating the same things… When I reread, I had a good laugh.

So, I guess you’re right: this other site, it’s pure venom.

June 8th, 2016 at 5:47 am

mat4,

Church of Roger is not proper denomination, it is cult, therefore it cannot become member of WCC, on the other side Church of Novak is proper denomination and we are WCC mamber, ask our Reverend Jun..

June 8th, 2016 at 5:59 am

^^^ “WCC member” should say

June 8th, 2016 at 6:01 am

They’ve all becoming raving lunatics. How much longer do we have to endure the gloating and nonsensical posts?? Not long I hope.

June 8th, 2016 at 7:53 am

Wogboy i gave Novak alot of credit, as i have repeatedly over the years, i actually said at the top of the thread i believe hes the new GOAT, and yes 4 in a row has only been done by players you can count on only one hand, well 3 fingers actually, so i dont really know how much more credit i can give to Novak, do you want us to write it in blood ? ….

June 8th, 2016 at 8:47 am