DJOKOVIC 39-MATCH WIN STREAK BY THE NUMBERS


Novak Djokovic is riding a 39-match win streak heading into Roland Garros, dating back to December's Davis Cup final. Here's a look at the streak by the numbers...

0 - Double faults in Australian Open, Dubai and Miami finals combined
1 - Grand Slam title
2 - Wins in 2010 Davis Cup final
3 - Victories over No. 2 Roger Federer
4 - Victories over No. 1 Rafael Nadal
5 - Wins in under 60 minutes
6 - Different Top 10 players beaten in 2011
7 - Singles titles
8 - Games lost to countryman Viktor Troicki in 3 matches
9 - Sets lost... and also sets won 6-0
10 - Wins over Top 5 opponents
11 - Losses before 37th win in 2010
12 - Games lost in first four matches at Indian Wells
13 - Wins vs. Top 10 players (and 13 wins on clay)
14 - Sets won 6-1
15 - Victories without being broken
16 - Wins for Nadal, 11 for Djokovic in their rivalry
17 - Break points faced at Miami, 15 saved
18 - Consecutive sets won from Jan. 19-Feb. 23
19 - Sets won and 1 set lost at Australian Open
20 - Career outdoor titles after Rome triumph
21 - Victories in which he broke his opponent at least 5 times
22 - Straight wins at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events
23 - Career losses to left-handers, 8-0 during streak
24 - Years old on May 22nd
25 - Career titles after winning in Rome
26 - Match wins on hard court
27 - November was when Djokovic last lost a match (l. Federer)
28 - Different players defeated
29 - Straight wins by Ivan Lendl to start 1986, surpassed by Djokovic in Madrid R16
30 - Break points converted in 6 matches at Indian Wells
31 - Consecutive wins by Bjorn Borg to start 1980, surpassed by Djokovic in Madrid SF
32 - Match win streak is the longest of Nadal’s career 
33 - Percent of first-serve return points won by both Djokovic and Nadal in the Rome final
34 - Career losses in a deciding set, 9-0 during streak
35 - Matches in which he won the first set
36 - Weeks at No. 2 entering Roland Garros (week of May 23)
37 - Match clay-court win streak of Nadal’s snapped by Djokovic
38 - Service points won by both Djokovic and Nadal in the Rome final
39 - Successive wins

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … mbers.aspx
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Z df to szok.

Novak Djoković i Jelena Ristić na festiwalu filmowym w Cannes:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= … 4410993700

Magia bezglutenowa

Novak Djoković w kilka miesięcy dojrzał do zwycięstw nad najlepszymi tenisistami. Jego sposób na sukces: stary wierny trener oraz nowy specjalista od spraw żywienia, akupunktury i medytacji

Wielu nie chciało uwierzyć: wiadomo, że Djoković jest zdolny i wszechstronny, ale żeby umiał usunąć w cień klasyczne mecze Rafael Nadal – Roger Federer, żeby zaatakował pozycję lidera rankingu ATP? W styczniu wydawało się to niemożliwe. Dziś już jest, dziś pytanie brzmi, kiedy Serb zdetronizuje wielkiego Hiszpana.

Zaczął od grudnia 2010 roku, od zwycięskiego finału Pucharu Davisa w Belgradzie. Wygrana z Francją, euforia rodaków, potem długi bal, który zaczął się już na korcie od ogolenia głowy na łyso i tańca z szampanem, a skończył kilkudniowym leczeniem emocjonalnego wyczerpania, w warunkach jakie tworzą apartament w Monaco oraz opieka narzeczonej.

– Finał Pucharu Davisa dał mi to, na co tak długo czekałem, ogromną wiarę w siebie. Był dla mnie ważniejszy niż zwycięstwo wielkoszlemowe. Poczułem to kliknięcie i teraz już wszystko w mojej grze jest na właściwym miejscu. Poczułem przypływ mocy. Nie przypuszczałem jednak, że przez następne miesiące będę wygrywał wszystkie mecze – tłumaczył Djoković.

Nieprzerwane pasmo to ponad 30 wygranych pojedynków w 2011 roku, zdobycie sześciu tytułów od Australian Open po Madryt, ze wskazaniem na kolejne wygrane. Podziw budzi nie tyle statystyka, bo są w historii tenisa znacznie dłuższe serie (Martina Navratilova wygrała w 1984 roku 74 singlowe spotkania z rzędu i do tego 109 deblowych z Pam Shriver – to jest rekord do pobicia), ile styl sukcesów Novaka Djokovicia wersja 2.0. Nigdy wcześniej nie był tak szybki, skuteczny i pewny swych umiejętności.

W trzech finałach turniejów z cyklu Masters pokonał Nadala. Jeszcze w Indian Wells i Miami wybrzydzano, że te zwycięstwa to efekt twardych kortów i innego cyklu przygotowań Hiszpana, ale wygrana na czerwonej mączce w Madrycie dopełniła dzieła. Może być nowy numer 1 światowego tenisa.

Ivan Ljubicić, który miał okazję trenować z oboma, mówi: – Nie ma porównania. Novak jest dziś sprawniejszy, skuteczniejszy i nawet wytrzymalszy od Rafaela. Brad Gilbert uderza w najwyższe fachowe tony: – To najlepszy bekhend od czasów Andre Agassiego. Roger Federer dodaje: – Jestem dziś słabszy od obu, Nadala i Djokovicia, i wydaje mi się, że przyszedł czas takich jak Novak, którzy umieją wygrywać na każdej nawierzchni.

Tata Srdjan Djoković dodaje, że największa zmiana nastąpiła w głowie syna. – Kiedyś się bał, zarówno wtedy, gdy trenował jako dzieciak podczas bombardowania Belgradu, jak i podczas pierwszych ważnych meczów w turniejach. Umiał dobrze maskować ten strach, dziś nauczył się nie bać nikogo i niczego – twierdzi z dumą.

Pytania o tajemnicę tej przemiany padały już w Australii, podstawowa odpowiedź do dziś się nie zmienia. – Wiążę mój sukces z dojrzałością, jako sportowiec i człowiek. To był proces, trwał co najmniej pięć lat. Uczyłem się, zdobywałem doświadczenie, pozbywałem się stresów, no i codziennie pracowałem, licząc na to, że praca da owoce – mówił w Melbourne jak stachanowiec Novak.

Alchemia sukcesu ma jednak swoich czarnoksiężników. Pierwszy jest dobrze znany. To stary trener Marian Vajda ze Słowacji, który zacisnął zęby, gdy główną rolę w kształtowaniu tenisa Djokovicia przejęli inni, a zwłaszcza gdy serwis zmieniał mu Amerykanin Todd Martin. Vajda bez skrzywienia wrócił do głównej roli, gdy Novak zrezygnował z doradców. – Jest moim drugim ojcem. Nasz związek jest nie do zerwania, bo dostrzegłem poświęcenie Mariana. Wiem, że ma rodzinę i bez wahania zostawia ją na miesiąc czy dwa, gdy trzeba jechać ze mną do USA i Australii. Jest niezwykle uczciwy i wiem, że zależy mu na moich postępach – ta opinia tenisisty powinna wynagrodzić trenerowi chwile zwątpienia.

Drugi z magów, a medialnie chyba pierwszy, to doktor. Igor Cetojević ma dyplom wyższej uczelni medycznej w Sarajewie, studiował tradycyjną medycynę chińską w Belgradzie, pracował też w Pekinie, by poznać tajemnice akupunktury. Ukończył również Hinduski Instytut Magnetoterapii w New Delhi. Jest ponadto specjalistą do spraw odżywiania, psychologii, zna się na biosprzężeniach organizmu ludzkiego i umie tę wiedzę, określaną zbiorczo jako „medycyna energetyczna", dobrze wykorzystać, jeśli wierzyć jego stronie internetowej (www.docigor.org) oraz samemu Djokoviciowi. Przy okazji – doktor ostatnio intensywnie bada efekty naturalnej radiacji ziemskiej, jej wpływ na zdrowie, a także metody ograniczenia złych skutków tego zjawiska.

Tenisista zatrudnił go w lipcu 2010 roku. Pierwszym ważnym efektem pracy dr. Igora było odkrycie przyczyny nagłych osłabień tenisisty, które czasem prowadziły nawet do poddawania meczów. Novak ma alergię na gluten i jeszcze kilka innych składników pokarmowych. Radykalna zmiana diety, wyrzucenie z niej pieczywa, pizzy i makaronów przyniosło podwójnie dobry efekt, wręcz magiczny. – Trochę schudłem, ale nie osłabłem, przeciwnie, poczułem, że mam znacznie więcej energii – mówił tenisista.

Z obozu Serba dochodzą też informacje o medytacjach tenisisty i sesjach terapeutycznych, których wpływ widać na korcie i poza nim. Jednego nie zmienił. Po dawnemu świętuje sukcesy z zaangażowaniem godnym okazji. Po finale Australian Open wynajął serbską orkiestrę ludową i w szatniach klubu Melbourne Park wydał przyjęcie z muzyką bałkańską, tańcami na stołach i śpiewami do białego rana. Dla wszystkich: sponsorów, działaczy, obsługi turnieju i każdego, kto był w pobliżu. Doktor Igor tego nie zabrania.

Co chce teraz osiągnąć wzmocniony jak nigdy Novak Djoković? Odpowiada: – Widzę różnicę między mymi marzeniami i ambicjami. Ambicją jest zostać numerem 1 na świecie. Marzeniem – wygrać Wimbledon. Jak spełni się tylko jedno, nie będę narzekał.

http://www.rp.pl/artykul/123162,658123_ … ecie_.html

SI proclaims Djokovic ‘most dominant athlete in world’

A tragic story about the rebuilding after the Tuscaloosa tornadoes highlights the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated. A bold claim about Novak Djokovic gets the top banner.



The clarification of "right now" is a giant qualifier (though it might have just as much to do with spacing and layout concerns) but still, that's some great American publicity for Djokovic ahead of the French Open. His winning streak is beginning to seep into the public consciousness -- I've seen stories about it on "Pardon The Interruption," CNN and FOX News in the past three days -- and if he goes on a run in Paris, expect the hype to build.
It's going to be a fun fortnight at Roland Garros.

http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/blog/bus … =ten-wp715

DECONSTRUCTING DJOKOVIC: WHY NOVAK IS UNSTOPPABLE IN 2011
DEUCE


The sky's the limit: Novak Djokovic began his perfect season by winning his second Grand
Slam title at the Australian Open.

This season no player on the ATP World Tour has solved the riddle that is Novak Djokovic. Former pro and tennis analyst Justin Gimelstob breaks down why the Serb is on a 39-match winning streak heading into Roland Garros. But even with the secrets of Djokovic’s success revealed, that doesn’t mean the Serb will be beaten any time soon.

For four long years, Novak Djokovic had ended each season ranked No. 3 in the world behind Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He began 2011 having gone 11 Grand Slam tournaments without adding to the first major he won at the Australian Open in 2008. Although it may be a cliché, it’s true that 2011 was always going to be a make or break year for the man from Belgrade.

The prospect of a fifth consecutive year watching the Roger-Rafa duopoly roll on has proved intolerable for a player of such prodigious talent. Djokovic has responded with one of the best starts to a season in the Open Era, winning 37 consecutive matches and seven titles, including the Australian Open and all four ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments he has played, beating Federer three times and Nadal four times – all in Masters 1000 finals. He is now poised to become World No. 1.

“With Novak, there is no safe place to hit the ball”

Yes, Djokovic’s backhand is the best in the business and his returns are out of this world. But unlike his predecessors at the top of the game, his success isn’t dependent on those one or two assets, rather a combination of technical acumen, consistency, a suffocating array of athleticism, defense, and movement. As former World No. 1 Jim Courier says: “Djokovic is the total package right now. His combination of pace of shot on his ground strokes and the amount of court he is covering is impressive. He can hurt you from anywhere on the court.”

Novak is dominating the sport due to the sum of his parts. His skills collectively have created an equation to which no player in 2011 has found an answer. Top-ranked American Mardy Fish, who has never beaten Djokovic in six career meetings, was brutally candid when assessing the Serb’s game. “I have played all of the top players but Novak is the toughest match-up for me because he has no weaknesses. With Roger, as amazing as he is, you feel like you have a game plan of trying to get the ball into his backhand. With Rafa you feel like you can try to take his time away and get free points on your serve because he stands deeper in the court. With Novak, there is no safe place to hit the ball. And as a result you feel so much pressure playing him.”



Here, There, Everywhere…
The cornerstone of Novak’s game is his movement. He is covering the court better than anyone else in the sport, and is using his speed in both an offensive and defensive way. “Novak is the best player on the run in the game right now and that changes the way guys play; it makes them uncomfortable,” says 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras. Courier adds: “His speed and movement give him the time to be patient and play high percentage tennis when he needs to.”

Novak’s flexibility, core strength, and balance combine to put immense pressure on his opponents, forcing them to hit closer to the lines, leading to higher unforced error counts. Novak is a rare athlete who blends massive power and explosiveness. Upon closer examination you notice his precise footwork: the short adjustment steps, the way he measures long distances by extending his stride, and then occasionally how abruptly he can accelerate into another gear and turn defense into offense with one swing of the racquet.

Federer’s coach, Paul Annacone explains: “Novak hits more winners from a defensive position than anyone else right now and that is why it is so hard to play against him. The combination of his movement, court positioning and confidence make it very difficult to put him in tough positions on the court.”

“Novak is capable of playing high-risk tennis in a high percentage way”
The shot that best exemplifies Djokovic’s ability to turn defence into offence is when he is stretched deep into his backhand corner. Most players with double-handed backhands lack range and power in defensive positions as they take one hand off the racquet. Novak, however, is able to keep his feet underneath him, set and stabilise on his outside left leg, pivot and push off simultaneously. Instead of hitting a passive or even neutralising shot, he can still generate extreme pace and accuracy.

Novak also brings a deep arsenal to the tennis court to leverage his movement. “He has the best backhand in the world right now and he is also the best at turning defence into offence,” says Fish. Annacone adds: “Some players are great defensive players but Novak is special in that he doesn’t just defend the court but he defends offensively.” Novak’s technique is flawless and his timing and ball striking are at the top of the game. This enables him to control and dictate from the middle of the court. Courier says: “He reminds me of Agassi in his prime, when Andre was taking the ball so early, dictating from the middle of the court, and making his opponents do a disproportionate amount of the running.”



Shrinkage
The most vivid image of 2011 is that of Novak residing close to the baseline, bludgeoning ground strokes from the center of the court. He often looks like he is playing ping-pong against some of the hard hitters in the world, deflecting and absorbing pace while running his opponents ragged from corner to corner. Novak stalks the court with the precision of a surgeon, his tennis racquet is the scalpel and the cuts are clean. Novak’s talents help him master the use of time and strip it from his opponents.

As Agassi’s former coach Darren Cahill says, “The best thing Novak does is shrink the court for his opponents. He makes his side much smaller because of his court positioning and how early he takes the ball.” Fish concurs: “You find yourself trying to squeeze shots into parts of the court that are low percentage because he moves so well and you can’t find space on the court to get the ball away from him.”

There are numerous ways Djokovic accomplishes this. One way is to hit the ball hard: The more pace on your shots the quicker it gets to your opponent. Novak’s confidence and stroke production enables him to swing more freely and aggressively than at any other time in his career. Another way is to take the ball sooner, as there is an exponential value based on contacting the ball early in the bounce as it cuts your opponent’s recovery time. Novak is consistently standing close, if not inside, the baseline and his contact point is the earliest in tennis. This brand of tennis normally carries greater risk. However, because of his timing, technique, footwork and soft hands, Novak is capable of playing high-risk tennis in a high percentage way.

“The best thing Novak does is shrink the court for his opponents”

This is never more evident than in the ease and abundance in how he changes the direction of the ball. No player in tennis changes the direction of the ball as seamlessly. Most players, even at the elite level, tend to stay with the grain during rallies, maintaining cross-court patterns until a ball lands short. Novak bucks that trend. He is superb at going to any corner off any shot at any point in a rally, making him unpredictable. He is also the best finisher in the game right now, by a substantial margin, with shots down the line off both sides. All of this keeps his opponents off balance and uncomfortable. Courier says: “He is one of the best I have ever seen at finishing down the line off cross-court shots, and that is a testament to his timing, technique and also his footwork.”

As great as all of the variables that Novak brings to the court, no player can dominate on the ATP World Tour like he has done in 2011 without elite shots. Novak is the best in the world in two areas right now: the return of serve and backhand. Sampras is unequivocal: “His backhand is as solid as it gets, and he doesn’t give away any free points. It seems like he has the perfect percentage of offence to defence right now.”

Mastering Rafa
The greatest evidence of his prowess on the backhand side is how he has diffused the most destructive and effective pattern in tennis: the viciously-looping cross-court Rafael Nadal forehand into a right hander’s backhand. Novak has beaten Rafa four times in 2011, all in finals of ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events and each time he stood his ground and was a backboard when confronted with a previously indefensible sequence. Novak’s ability to stand firm, not concede ground, and often redirect that ball down the line to reset the flow of the rally to Rafa’s backhand reveals his true talent.

Novak is like a hockey goalie on the return of serve, seemingly everywhere, repelling opponents’ deliveries back with depth and accuracy. The most important statistic in professional men’s tennis is how often you break serve, and Novak leads the ATP World Tour this year, winning an astonishing 43% of the games when his opponent is serving. His anticipation, compact swing and ability to absorb and redirect pace have helped him dominate when his opponents miss their first serves. He is also leading the ATP World Tour by winning 59% of his opponents’ second-serve points.

“Once again the bar is being raised on the ATP World Tour”

Courier says: “He has taken the return of serve to a new level. He makes you play every ball, and gets the ball back on the server so quickly.” Cahill says that “Novak’s success all starts with his return of serve. He is the best returner in the world and it allows him to hurt guys right with that first strike.”

After more than seven years of Federer and Nadal sharing the World No. 1 South African Airways ATP Ranking, Djokovic looks highly likely to ascend to the pinnacle of men’s tennis the Monday after Roland Garros. If Nadal fails to win the title, Novak will become No. 1 regardless of his own performance. If Nadal claims a sixth Roland Garros crown, Djokovic will take No. 1 if he reaches the final.

Should Djokovic claim No. 1, it will be a reward for his sustained excellence and hard work, and usher in a new dawn in men’s tennis. As Courier says, “It’s fun to sit back and watch as once again the bar is being raised on the ATP World Tour.”

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE- … kovic.aspx

Novak kończy dziś 24 lata. Wszystkiego Najlepszego, spełnienia marzeń i przede wszystkim zdrowia.

RG 2011 - konferencja po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie.

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multi … 0009d.html

RG 2011 - konferencja po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie.

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multi … 0010b.html

DJOKOVIC ONE VICTORY FROM WORLD NO. 1


Novak Djokovic beat Richard Gasquet
in straight sets on Sunday.

Serbian Novak Djokovic is one victory away from becoming World No. 1 after he advanced to the Roland Garros semi-finals when Fabio Fognini of Italy pulled out of their match on Tuesday.

World No. 49 Fognini withdrew from the quarter-final clash with a left thigh injury, sustained during his five-set win over Albert Montanes of Spain on Sunday.

"I have a small muscle tear and the doctors have decided that I should not play tomorrow," said Fognini, who was the first Italian man to reach the Roland Garros quarter-finals since Renzo Furlan 1995.

"It's really difficult. I am finally in Paris playing against Djokovic tomorrow and he hadn't lost like 40 matches in a row. It's difficult because it's the best tournament of my career, but I think it's the best solution."

Should 24-year-old Djokovic book his place in the Roland Garros final be would become No. 1 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings next week. The only way Rafael Nadal can retain his World No. 1 ranking is if he wins the title and Djokovic loses before the final.

Djokovic has compiled a 41-0 match record on the year. He has won 43 consecutive matches dating back to the Davis Cup final in December.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … -No-1.aspx

DJOKOVIC REFLECTS ON 'BEST FIVE MONTHS OF MY LIFE'


Djokovic was one win shy of tying
John McEnroe's record for the best
start to a season.

Novak Djokovic’s perfect 41-0 record in 2011 and 43-match winning streak came to an end Friday at the hands of Roger Federer in the semi-finals of Roland Garros. The 2009 champion continued his impressive form in Paris, taking out the Serbian 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5) to advance to the final at Roland Garros for a fifth time.

Djokovic’s incredible start to the year ranks second only to John McEnroe, who began the 1984 season with 42 straight victories. “It was best five months of my life, my tennis career,” claimed Djokovic. “I cannot complain. It was definitely an incredible period. It had to end somewhere. I knew it was coming. Unfortunately, it came in the bad moment. It was a big match today. But look, it's the sport. I will keep on working hard.”

Should Federer earn his first win over Nadal at Roland Garros Sunday, Djokovic will become the new World No. 1 in Monday’s South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings. That will be a fitting reward for his sustained excellence over the past 52 weeks, particularly his blazing start this year. Should Nadal win the title Sunday he will remain World No. 1, but Djokovic will have another shot at obtaining the top spot at Wimbledon, where Nadal is defending champion’s points from 2010.

Though he’ll be disappointed in not reaching in first final in Paris, Djokovic showed why he was unbeatable in 2011 prior to Friday’s match. Down two sets to love, the World No. 2 didn’t give up. After winning the third set, Djokovic stayed patient and eventually had an opportunity to push the match to five, before Federer broke back to level at 5-5 in the fourth set, and ultimately closed it out in a tense tie-break. “I tried to motivate myself,: Djokovic said. “It's a big match, and I tried to think about the first point of the third set, the new match is starting. And I think I played well… I was serving for the fourth set, and he played couple of really good points. So he deserved it.”

Like Djokovic, McEnroe’s streak was halted at Roland Garros by one of his formidable rivals, Ivan Lendl. In many ways, the two streaks had similar parallels. McEnroe won eight titles during his streak, while Djokovic lifted seven trophies. The American defeated Lendl in five finals; the Serbian beat World No. 1 Rafael Nadal in four finals. Both Djokovic and McEnroe notched their first wins against Nadal and Lendl on clay, respectively, during their streaks as well.

McEnroe’s loss to Lendl wasn’t all bad; the seven-time major champion reeled off another stretch of 20 consecutive victories, winning Wimbledon along the way. Djokovic is looking to win his first Grand Slam title outside of Australia and is a two-time semi-finalist at the All England Club. His loss to Federer will give the Serbian time to recover, reflect and relax before preparing for his grass court campaign – he pulled out of the AEGON Championships Friday evening citing patellar tendinitis.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … treak.aspx