A quote that is usually attributed to Frederick Nietzsche, the German philosopher, says, “ When we are tired, we are attacked by ideas we conquered long ago”. In the Arthur Ashe Stadium yesterday, it looked like Novak Djokovic was physically and mentally tired, and was questioning his capacity to win the Golden Slam. For the last fifteen to twenty years, three names have ruled the world of Men’s tennis: Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. Out of the three, Djokovic is the one who has had to prove himself over and over again. For some mysterious reason, he is always under scrutiny, by the critics, and by the fans, equally.
While Nadal and Federer were often pardoned for their losses and their lean streaks, Djokovic’s performances come under the microscope each time he loses a major tournament. There is a significant section of Tennis fans, who don’t favor Djokovic. Now, “Like” is a strong word, I understand, but that is what it is. Even yesterday, during the prize-giving ceremony, there was a banner that read “ Like or dislike, Djokovic is the greatest”. After nearly two decades at the top of professional tennis, and with twenty grand slam tournaments under his belt, Djokovic still has to grapple with the legitimacy of his legacy among tennis lovers. Yesterday, however, the New York crowd, was behind Djokovic all the way. They wanted this great champion, this eccentric and mellowed genius, this phenomenon from the small country of Serbia, to complete the golden slam in their city. Never before had Djokovic got such a reception from this metropolis, but this year was different in so many ways, and the fans responded with unbridled cheers and backing for this champion. But unfortunately, Djokovic couldn’t find his game at all, when it mattered to him the most.
Sometimes scores do not represent the quality of play on the court. But not so yesterday. The scoreline reads Medvedev beat Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. and the scores indeed reflect the dominance Medvedev had over the champion throughout the match. It didn’t seem like a contest at all. Every shot that came out of Medvedev racket hit its mark, and whatever Djokovic attempted never found fruition. It was a one-sided contest. Two years ago, when Medvedev played Nadal in the epic US open final, Medvedev just couldn’t close the game, and Nadal took the match away from him in the fifth set. But in 2021, a mature Medvedev handled the pressure well. Just a little nerve was visible towards the end as he served for the championship, but he quickly shook it off and finished the game in style. The young, lanky, soft-spoken Russian slowly fell down on the ground, imitating the “dead fish celebration” in the popular FIFA video game. Not many in the US would have understood that gesture, and Medvedev clarified it at the end of the speech during the Prize giving ceremony.
The US open brings to an end the Tennis season of 2021. It has been a great year, after the wash-out of 2020. The old guard in tennis has gradually given way to the new this year. There is churn at the top, and it is not yet settled on who is likely to take on the mantle from the great champions. Winning one major tournament is not a measure of a champion, It is persistence, grit, and ability to make every day, every tournament count. Sometimes, I feel that we may never see players of the caliber of the William sisters, or Federer, Nadal, Graf, or Djokovic. That era of grit, perseverance, and dominance may be over. In this age and time, with so much visibility, money and tours, and youngsters peaking too quickly, it is difficult for a player to sustain the burning passion one must-have for the game to stay unchallenged for long. And there is the question of mental health and happiness. Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles have raised issues of stress and burnout. Both have lost the energy and drive that drove them to the top in the first place. Can a break help them come back? It may. Sports is a very demanding profession, and even a few months of rest from the circuit can make it extremely difficult to return to the top echelons of the game. It is a catch-22 situation. If you continue to play, you burn out; if you choose to rest, you lose the edge.
Let us hope that the new champions in 2021 continue to do well in the coming years. There are enough players with talent, fire in the belly, and the desire to do well. It is all a question of training the mind and body to work in tandem.
God bless…
Yours in mortality,
Bala