A Perspective on Djokovic in 2015
Much like in 2011, Novak Djokovic is putting together one of the greatest seasons of the Open Era in 2015. it is indisputable that Rod Laver’s 1969, with the Calendar Slam to back it up, is the greatest season in the Open Era. However, we are living in an era with three all-time greats who have put together numerous great seasons.
In order to put each of the accomplishments into perspective, it is important to take a look at each season individually. Djokovic’s incomplete 2015 season is listed instead of 2011 because it is important to compare the past to the present, and it seems inevitable that 2015 will surpass 2011 for him anyways.
There are several ways to break down each individual’s best season; I have decided to do it by number of titles won, top 10 wins, and W/L percentage.
Roger Federer’s 2006
Titles Won (12): Qatar, Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami, Halle, Wimbledon, Canadian Open, US Open, Japan, Madrid, Basel, Tennis Masters Cup
Top 10 wins:
1. Nikolay Davydenko (5)- Australian Open QF [6-4 3-6 7-6(7) 7-6(5)]
2. Ivan Ljubičić (6)- Indian Wells QF [6-2 6-3]
3. James Blake (9)- Miami QF [7-6(2) 6-4]
4. Ivan Ljubičić (6) Miami F [7-6(5) 7-6(4) 7-6(6)]
5. David Nalbandian (3) Rome- [6-3 3-6 7-6(5)]
6. David Nalbandian (3)- Roland Garros SF [3-6 6-4 5-2 RET.]
7. Mario Ančić (10)- Wimbledon QF [6-4 6-4 6-4]
8. Rafael Nadal (2)- Wimbledon F [6-0 7-6(5) 6-7(2) 6-3]
9. James Blake (7)- US Open QF [7-6(7) 6-0 6-7(9) 6-4]
10. Nikolay Davydenko (6)- US Open SF [6-1 7-5 6-4]
11. Andy Roddick (10)- US Open F [6-2 4-6 7-5 6-1]
12. David Nalbandian (4)- Madrid SF [6-2 7-5 6-4]
13. Fernando Gonzales (10)- Madrid F [7-5 6-1 6-0]
14. Fernando Gonzales (7)- Basel F [6-3 6-2 7-6(3)]
15. David Nalbandian (7)- Tennis Masters Cup RR [3-6 6-1 6-1]
16. Andy Roddick (5) Tennis Masters Cup RR [4-6 7-6(10) 6-4]
17. Ivan Ljubičić (4)- Tennis Masters Cup RR [7-6(2) 6-4]
18. Rafael Nadal (2)- Tennis Masters Cup SF [6-4 7-5]
19. James Blake (8)- Tennis Masters Cup F [6-0 6-3 6-4]
Overall W/L Record: 92-5 (94.8%)
Rafael Nadal’s 2010
Titles Won (7): Monte Carlo, Rome, Madrid, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open, Tokyo
Top 10 wins:
1. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (10)- Miami QF [6-3 6-2]
2. Roger Federer (1)- Madrid F [6-4 7-6(5)]
3. Robin Söderling (7)- Roland Garros F [6-4 6-2 6-4]
4. Robin Söderling (6)- Wimbledon QF [3-6 6-3 7-6(4)]
5. Andy Murray (4)- Wimbledon SF [6-4 7-6(6) 6-4]
6. Fernando Verdasco (8)- US Open QF [7-5 6-3 6-4]
7. Novak Djokovic (3)- US Open F [6-4 5-7 6-4 6-2]
8. Tomáš Berdych (6) – World Tour Finals RR [7-6(3) 6-1]
9. Andy Murray (5)- World Tour Finals SF [7-6(5) 3-6 7-6(6)]
Overall W/L Record: 71-10 (87.6%)
Novak Djokovic’s 2015 Season (so far)
Titles Won (9): Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Rome, Wimbledon, US Open, Beijing, Shanghai
Top 10 wins
1. Milos Raonic (8)- Australian Open QF [7-6(5) 6-4 6-2]
2. Stan Wawrinka (4)- Australian Open SF 7[7-6(1) 3-6 6-4 4-6 6-0]
3. Andy Murray (6)- Australian Open F [7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-3 6-0]
4. Tomàš Berdych (8)- Dubai SF [6-0 5-7 6-4]
5. Andy Murray (4)- Indian Wells SF [6-2 6-3]
6. Roger Federer (2)- Indian Wells F [6-3 6-7(5) 6-2]
7. David Ferrer (7)- Miami QF [7-5 7-5]
8. Andy Murray (4)- Miami F [7-6(3) 4-6 6-0]
9. Marin Cilić (10)- Monte Carlo QF [6-0 6-3]
10. Rafael Nadal (5)- Monte Carlo SF [6-3 6-3]
11. Tomáš Berdych (8)- Monte Carlo F [7-5 4-6 6-3]
12. Kei Nishikori (6)- Rome QF [6-3 3-6 6-1]
13. David Ferrer (8)- Rome SF [6-4 6-4]
14. Roger Federer (2)- Rome F [6-4 6-3]
15. Rafael Nadal (7)- Roland Garros QF [7-5 6-3 6-1]
16. Andy Murray (3)- Roland Garros SF [6-3 6-3 5-7 5-7 6-1]
17. Marin Cilič (9)- Wimbledon QF [6-4 6-4 6-4]
18. Roger Federer (2)- Wimbledon F [7-6(1) 6-7(10) 6-4 6-3]
19. Stan Wawrinka (5)- Cincinnati QF [6-4 6-1]
20. Marin Cilić (9)- US Open SF [6-0 6-1 6-2]
21. Roger Federer (2)- US Open F [6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4]
22. David Ferrer (7)- Beijing SF [6-2 6-3]
23. Rafael Nadal (8) Beijing F [6-2 6-2]
24. Andy Murray (2) Shanghai SF [6-1 6-3]
Overall W/L Record: 73-5 (93.5%)
Each of these three-Slam-winning seasons will go down as all-time great seasons but even then they seem miles apart.
While the “top 10 win” statistic can be flawed based on form of a particular player, it shows how much a certain player went through elite opposition through the year. What stands out is that Nadal only had nine top 10 wins in 2010. For a three-Slam season, this is shockingly low, especially in comparison to Federer’s 2006 (19) and Djokovic’s 2015 (24 and counting). Djokovic’s 24 top 10 wins is staggering and is already considerably higher than Federer’s 2006 despite the season not being completed yet.
Another thing missing from Nadal’s 2010 resume is the number of titles won. Federer in 2006 won 12, Djokovic has won nine in 2015 so far, whereas Nadal only won seven in 2010. It shows that he brought the goods when it truly mattered but was never dominant consistently throughout the year like Djokovic and Federer were and have been in their respective seasons.
This is reflected in their win/loss records of their respective seasons. Nadal lost a total of 10 times in 2010. While that is nothing to scoff at, Federer only lost five times in 2006 and Djokovic has only lost five times in 2015 so far. So again, Nadal’s resume comes short in this area as well.
In conclusion, winning three Slams is a rare feat in tennis and is an accomplishment that should be applauded. But as you can see, you can measure dominance throughout the year in many different ways. Many people will like to cherry-pick stats in order to make their favorite look better; this is as an objective viewpoint as you can get. Djokovic’s numbers in 2015 really hold up well against the other two and their greatest seasons. I truly believe that if he keeps his momentum up, he could end 2015 with the best season of the Open Era since Laver.
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