On Monday, when Novak Djokovic walks onto the centre court at Wimbledon as defending champion, he will take the first step in a journey that if accomplished, will be one of the greatest achievements in the history of all sport.
From London in July to Rio de Janerio in August to New York in September, the mighty Serb finds himself a hop, skip and jump away from an unprecedented summit- the Golden Slam – capturing each of tennis’ four major tournaments along with an Olympic gold in the same calendar year.
His first victory at the French Open earlier this month has already ensured the 29-year old membership of a couple of elite clubs. Only two men – Rod Laver & Don Budge – have held each of the four majors at the same time.
Only five men in the open era – Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic himself – have won each of the four majors at least once. He was already one of only eight men in the history of the game to have captured ten or more Grand Slam titles.
The opponent Djokovic vanquished in the final in Paris, Andy Murray, described his achievement as “phenomenal, amazing and rare”, all in the same sentence! However, scaling dizzying heights uninterruptedly as Djokovic has been doing has alerted the world to what is considered a near impossibility in the ferocity of modern sporting competition. Surely not all four in the same year? Surely not all four AND the Olympics gold in the same year? Surely not.
Since his clinical four set takedown of Murray in the French Open final earlier in the month, Djokovic hasn’t been seen in tournament play. Unlike his peers, he prefers not to practice on the grass, choosing an exhibition event instead of a gentler warm-up.
The peace and quiet is over, though. The din of that lurking tryst with history will incessantly chase him now, unless of course, an inspired rival halts him in his tracks.
Well, I don’t want to sound arrogant but I really think everything is achievable in life. Whether or not I can reach a calendar slam, that’s still a possibility.Novak Djokovic
In essence, Djokovic senses the opportunity his supreme racquet-wielding prowess has thrown in his direction. He understands that he lords over any foe across the net these days but also recognises the surround sound as history nears carries the dangerous potential of blurring the process he must devote to.
One point, one game, one set, one match at a time. From the slippery grass at Wimbledon to humid Rio to noisy New York, he must front up each time, somehow detaching himself from the monumental feat that awaits him.
And so he begins on Monday against local man James Ward. Ward is 6’3”. He hasn’t been past the third round in six previous appearances at his home championships. He is ranked 177. He is the first obstacle in this tantalising mission.
In 1998, when Steffi Graf accomplished what Djokovic is primed for, she described arriving in New York for the final leg of the journey “extremely fatigued.”
The great German remembered in an interview last year that the expectation “suffocated” her and made her feel “terrible.” Djokovic is a decade older than Graf was at the time but is certain to experience similar anxiety if the prospect does indeed near reality. He may be a magnificent athletic specimen, but he is human.
Djokovic had described the final few moments of his French Open victory as an “out of body experience.” If on September 11, at the conclusion of the US Open men’s singles final he is holding up the trophy after having triumphed at Wimbledon and at the Olympics, his choice of phrase will be a tale in itself.
The prospect of a Djokovic Golden Slam holds the promise of an excursion into the fantastical for followers of sport over the next couple of months.
Belt up; it all begins Monday when he steps out onto the most hallowed tennis court in the world.
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