Djokovic Federer's True Challenge
Rafa Nadal is Not Primary Threat to Roger's ATP Tour Dominance
Novak Djokovich has the game to be a better long term threat to Roger Federer than Rafa Nadal. Djokovic's all court, versatile game is built for longevity. Nadal's isn't.
Nobody who watches or knows anything about professional tennis would question whether Roger Federer is the best tennis player of his era. Most knowledgeable players of the game including all time greats such as Rod Laver and Andre Agassi have even suggested that Roger Federer may be the best to ever play the game. Outspoken John McEnroe exclaimed in 2004, “He's the most gifted player that I've ever seen in my life. I've seen a lot of people play…This guy could be the greatest of all time.” All Roger has done since McEnroe’s comments is get better and dominate the ATP Tennis Tour!
As is the case with Federer’s PGA Tour buddy and fellow athletic genius, Tiger Woods, when you are so far beyond anyone else in your sport, fans, pundits, and commentators all offer up their sacrificial rival. After all, a spirited rivalry is the spice that adds extra flavor to any sport. Prior to the past few weeks when he lost twice to Argentine, Guillermo Canas, Federer hadn’t lost twice to an opponent since Rafael Nadal. Nadal had beaten Federer six of seven times before Federer’s victory over Nadal at Wimbledon in 2006.
No surprise then that Nadal is the player that has been touted as the rival, the one who could possibly loosen Federer’s grasp on the "World no.1" Title. Nadal's rapid rise to the no.2 ranking, his record stay at that ranking, and his dominance of the clay-court season in 2006 (including his victory over Federer in the French Championships) lends validity to the perception that he is the primary challenger to Federer’s dominance of men's tennis. Despite Nadal’s prominence over the past two years, Novak Djokovic, a 19-year old Serb, may actually be more of a threat to Federer’s supremacy.
Djokovic Emerges as Challenger
Djokovic lost to Nadal in the final at Indian Wells, then came back the following tournament with a straight-set win against Nadal in the quarterfinals of the Sony Erickson in Miami. He has yet to beat Federer, but he has a game that is much more versatile than Nadal’s, and more likely to stand the test of time against the world's best and other top players. Nadal’s game is a powerful one that is likely to win many matches and championships, especially on clay, as his 62-match win-streak attests. But it is a one-dimensional baseline game. His primary weapons are his speed and power, his consistent ability to counter attack successfully due to that speed and power, and his mental toughness. It takes incredible shot-making over an entire match to beat Nadal. That puts pressure on his opponents who often go for more than they need to in order to win points.
Few players can string together the array of shots and the patience needed over the course of a match to combat Nadal’s steely resolve, especially on clay where the pace of shots is reduced by the surface. Roger Federer is one with the talent to bring the kind of heat necessary to wilt Nadal, and given his performance this past week, so is Novak Djokovic. Novak displayed that type of shot-making during his 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Nadal in Miami, and showed surprising resolve in weathering the mental and physical storm of the 20-minute service game, in which he held serve to go up 4-2 in the second set in his victory over Canas. Perhaps most impressively, the teenager didn’t falter when the time came to finish the match.
Djokovic's Style of Play More of a Threat
Djokovic made big shots throughout the three set final with Canas and did not let the moment overcome him. Using a variety of shots, including frequent drop-shots, lob volleys, serve and volley tactics, and consistent play from the baseline, Djokovic out hit and wore down the scrappy Canas, Federer’s newest nemesis. He is crafty beyond his years, and utilizes much more variety than Nadal. Nadal’s game of out-hitting and outlasting his opponent from the baseline requires incredible fitness, and places maximum stress on the body. Nadal's nagging injuries at so young an age, combined with his style of game, do not bode well for his longevity on tour as a top player.
Djokovic on the other hand, while very sound and powerful from the baseline, often finishes points by coming to the net. He also includes a slice backhand in his shot repertoire, which is less stressful to the body than heavy, penetrating topspin shots from the baseline, which is Nadal’s forte. If Nadal’s natural style of game isn’t working on any given day, he just has to tough it out with that game. If Djokovic is having trouble with a style of play, he has the ability to change his game. This should make him more competitive than Nadal with other top players over the long haul. Over the past two decades, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer have shown that an all-court game is likely to be the dominant game in tennis, and Djokovic’s all-court game is likely to be more of a threat to Federer’s dominance than Nadal’s one-dimensional style.
