Top Spin Blog » Djokovic

Does Djokovic Have a Deal With the Devil?

Joe Samuel Starnes — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:49:10 +0000

I never thought Novak Djokovic would get out of that fifth set of the Australian Open final alive. Between that and coming back from match point against Federer at last year’s U.S. Open, I now wonder if he’s made any deals more significant than a shoe and racket contract — such as selling his soul.

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Gluten-Free Streak: Is Being No. 1 Worth This?

Joe Samuel Starnes — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:45:16 +0000

Much has been written and said lately about Novak Djokovic’s gluten-free diet as one reason for his monumental winning streak, so I thought I’d look into it. I could afford to drop a few pounds and wouldn’t mind improving my game. All it requires giving up? According to the Mayo Clinic, just these few items: beer, bread, candy, cakes and pies, cereals, cookies, crackers, croutons, gravy, oats, pasta, salad dressings, sauces, and soups, among other things.

I think I’ll be sticking with the gluten.

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Serbs Superb over Fading French in Davis Cup Final

Joe Samuel Starnes — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 18:41:06 +0000

I should have slept in. After yesterday’s fantastic doubles comeback by the French, I woke up early, expecting the Monfils-Djokovic match to be a battle. Instead Monfils made a mess of things. Michael Llodra did no better against Victor Troicki in the second match, very uneventful for the rare 2-2 matchup in a final. The French players won only 15 games in six sets, and Serbia is the 2010 Davis Cup champion. At least now the Serbian line judges accused yesterday by their team of being “unpatriotic” for serving up some home cooking now don’t have to worry too much about being deported — or worse.

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Can Nadal Overcome New York “Borgitis”?

Joe Samuel Starnes — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:22:02 +0000

Tennis history on the line this afternoon to see if Rafael Nadal can accomplish what Bjorn Borg never did — win in New York. Borg won six French Opens and five Wimbledons, kneeling down on the last one like he was giving thanks to the tennis gods above. But by September, those gods were frowning on him, knocking him down in the finals of four U.S. Opens. He practically disappeared, in fact, after losing in 1981 to McEnroe. Nadal, thus far in his career, has suffered from Borgitis. A win today vaults him ahead of Borg in the all-time great discussion.

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Isner IS America’s Next Best Chance to Win a Grand Slam

Joe Samuel Starnes — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:29:25 +0000

This year thus far has been the breakout year for John Isner – winning his first ATP title, reaching the round of 16 in Australia, and making a heroic Davis Cup debut this weekend in which he played all three days, including a great effort as a last-minute sub in the doubles and a valiant five-set loss to world No. 2 Djokovic in the proud Serb’s hometown. Isner is at an all-time high in singles at 20, an awesome jump from March 2 a year ago when he had dropped all the way to No. 144. Ever since Pete Sampras retired and Andre Agassi’s back began to hurt, America’s hopes have ridden on Andy Roddick shoulders. Roddick won the U.S. Open in 2003 and has come close at Wimbledon, no more so than last summer when he had chances to knock off Federer, but has not produced another championship. With Roddick turning 28 this year, he might have a few more shots, but I think 24-year-old Isner is not our next best chance. With his humongous serve, he has a puncher’s chance, especially on the fast courts of U.S. Open (which the USTA should keep speeding up by the way, especially since Wimbledon and Australia’s surfaces have slowed in past years).

The obvious comparison to Isner is Ivo Karlovic, the 6-10, 230 pound Croatian (Isner is 6-9, 245 pounds). Both hit serves from a lofty trajectory, piling up aces, giving them a chance to push every set to a tiebreaker. Karlovic is 31, and still competing strong, ranked 29 in the world. His high was No. 14 two years ago. Isner, however, has more game than Karlovic. Isner’s forehand is big too, and he’s volleying better (and it was great to see him hold his own at the net in the doubles yesterday.) I think the key for him will be fitness and developing a better net game. For too long we’ve watched Roddick bang 130 mph serves and then stay on the baseline. Big John needs to keep at it in doubles and in singles get into net, where his wing span is wide and he can put the ball away.

There’s no doubt he can step in to fill the Davis Cup role long-occupied by Andy Roddick. I’m hoping one day we’ll see him hunker down and raise with long arms a Grand Slam trophy over his head, afterward donning a Georgia Bulldog cap for the press conference. With what he showed this weekend, fighting Djokovic tooth-and-nail on clay, I believe he can do it.

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Still Alive! Isner and Bob Bryan Win a Thriller

Joe Samuel Starnes — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:30:36 +0000

Bob Bryan and John Isner, subsituting for an ill Mike Bryan, fought back in the first and third set tiebreakers to win in four sets in the Davis Cub doubles against Serbia on Saturday. A brilliant win, especially for Isner in his Davis Cup debut, a weekend in which he did not plan to play doubles. Tomorrow the task gets harder, with Isner up against Novak Djokovic. (9 a.m. ET on Tennis Channel) Bigger upsets have happened, but I can’t think of many.

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U.S. Davis Cup: Backs to the Wall in the Balkans

Joe Samuel Starnes — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:13:17 +0000

From Daviscup.com: Novak Djokovic confirmed Serbia’s dominance over USA by beating Sam Querrey at the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group first round tie in Belgrade.

Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, Djokovic handed his team a commanding 2-0 lead on Friday. Despite a spirited fight back from Querrey in the third set, the world No. 2 won the second rubber of the day 62 76(4) 26 63 in three hours, 25 minutes.

In the opening rubber, Viktor Troicki withstood a creditable clay court challenge from John Isner to win 76(4) 67(5) 75 64 in three hours 36 minutes.

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American Young Guns to Get Chance at Davis Cup in Serbia

Joe Samuel Starnes — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:44:52 +0000

A new era for American Davis Cup has begun, and it will be up to John Isner and Sam Querrey to step up and fill the shoes of long-time Davis Cuppers Andy Roddick and James Blake who are sitting out the competition this year. The tall twosome — Isner is 6′9″ an Querey 6′6″ — have a tall order to fill against the Serbian team lead by Novak Djokovic on indoor red clay in Belgrade on March 5-7. “This is the first time since 2000 that neither Andy Roddick nor James Blake will be on the U.S. Davis Cup roster – a span of 25 Davis Cup ties,” a USTA press release said. The Bryan brothers, the world’s No. 1 doubles team fresh of an Australian Open championship, will try to continue to build on their dominant career record of 16-2 in Davis Cup play. The U.S. vs. Serbia winner will face either Ecuador or Croatia in the Davis Cup quarterfinals, July 9-11. If the United States beats Serbia, they will be guaranteed to host the July quarterfinal, the press release said.

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Roddick’s Revenge as Djokovic Retires; Faces Federer Next

Joe Samuel Starnes — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:39:57 +0000

During a U.S. Open press conference last September, Andy Roddick ridiculed Novak Djokovic’s numerous calls to the trainer, suggesting that maybe he had SARS or the bird flu, but then he lost to the Serb in the quartefinals. Djokovic didn’t get the joke, and was angry in the aftermatch interview and New York fans booed him off the court. But Roddick got the latest laugh in Melbourne when he took a 2-1 lead in sets and Djokovic retired with cramps in the Australia summer heat.

Roddick now plays Roger Federer in the semis, a preview of a Davis Cup matchup in Birmingham the first weekend of March. Although Roddick has a dismal 2-15 record against Federer, he did beat him the last time they played in March 2008 in Miami.

Roddick’s win also makes 2009 already a better year for U.S. men in Grand Slams that 2008, a year in which no American reached the semifinals of any slam. It has been since Roddick’s U.S. Open win in 2003 since an American won a Grand Slams. Could he break the streak this year?

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Blake Falls to Tsonga, Roddick against Djokovic Tonight

Joe Samuel Starnes — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:56:36 +0000

James Blake lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets Monday night in Melbourne, losing 4-6, 4-6, 6-7 (3).

Andy Roddick goes up against No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic in a rematch of the contentious U.S. Open quarterfinal where Djokovic beat Roddick in four sets. The match is set to start not before 3 p.m. in Australia, meaning it could start on U.S. TV at 11 p.m. ET.

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