After putting together one of the best seasons in ATP World Tour history, it's no surprise that Nole dominates at nos.1-3.No.1 – Nole’s 41-0 start of the season
Through the first five-plus months of the season, the Serbian star proved to be unbeatable, building a 41-0 start unparalleled since John McEnroe’s effort back in 1984.
Though Nole finished one match win shy of the American’s record, defeated by Roger Federer in the Roland Garros semi-finals, McEnroe held his accomplishment in the highest regard. “Given that there’s more competition, more athleticism and deeper fields now, I’d say his record is even more impressive than mine”.
Consider these incredible statistics from Nole’s streak: His seven titles included the Australian Open and four ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments. In all four of those Masters 1000 events, he defeated at the time a no. 1-ranked Nadal in the final. He had 11 wins over top 10 opponents, including three against Federer and one against Murray.
No.2 – Nole’s three Grand Slam crowns
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal had accounted for 21 of the past 23 Grand Slam titles coming into the 2011 season. In 2011, Nole escaped the company of the 24 men in the ‘One-Slam Wonder’ club and joined the elite ranks of Rod Laver (1969), Mats Wilander (1974), Roger Federer (2004, 2006, 2007) and Rafael Nadal (2010) as winners of three Grand Slam titles in a season.
He began his campaign in Melbourne in impressive form, dropping one set en route to the Australian Open title, including straight-sets wins over Federer in the semi-finals and Andy Murray in the final. He won the Wimbledon title with victory over defending champion Nadal and ascended to no. 1 in the ATP Rankings. He clinched the US Open title in dramatic fashion, saving two match points against Federer in the semi-finals and prevailing against Nadal in an exceptional final.
No.3 – Nole’s record five Masters 1000 titles
The 24-year-old Belgrade native set a new record for the number of ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles won in a single season when he claimed five in 2011 - in five straight appearances (Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome and Montreal). SOURCE: Novak Djokovic Official WebSite (
read more)
The 2011 season is completed with the last night’s final of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London.
Novak finishes this unbelievable year as the world no.1 to become the 16th different player to finish as no.1 in the history of the ATP Rankings (since 1973). The 24-year-old Serbian star has had a historic season with a 70-6 match record (21-4 record vs top 10 players) and 10 titles - three Grand Slams, five ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies, Dubai (500) and Belgrade (250).
Novak is at the top with 13,675 points, 4100 points more than second-ranked Nadal, and 5,505 more than Federer in third place.
Top 10 as of Monday, November 28:
1. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 13.675
2. Rafael Nadal (Spain) 9,575
3. Roger Federer (Switzerland) 8,170
4. Andy Murray (Great Britain) 7,380
5. David Ferrer (Spain) 4,880
6. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 4,335
7. Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 3,700
8. Mardy Fish (USA) 2,965
9. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 2,595
10. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 2,380
* Davis Cup final (December 2-4) results might change the final ranking standings of no.10 Nicolas Almagro and no.11 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG).
Novak will take a well deserved rest and then start preparing for 2012 season in which he will face big challenges - a great number of points to defend and keeping the position no.1.
“ Hey everybody! Season is officially over for me. Wanted to thank you ALL for such a great support and so many wonderful wishes. I wish I could have been in better form for the last tournament but as I said before - everything happens for a reason. I am more than happy with everything that me and my team have achieved this year, and I will treasure and value this experience forever. Now I will rest well and soon start with preparations for season 2012. Once again, thank you for being my fans and friends, having your support throughout the year was a very important "ingredient" of the "winning formula " :) “ SOURCE: Novak Djokovic Official WebSite (
read more)
The no.1-ranked men's professional tennis player, Novak Djokovic, and the no.1-ranked women's professional golfer, Yani Tseng, were named the United States Sports Academy's September Athletes of the Month.
Both Novak and Tseng are arguably the two most dominating athletes in their sports this year. Novak beat Spaniard Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1 to win his first US Open championship and third Grand Slam title in 2011. The 24-year-old Serbian star has a remarkable 64-3 record this season. SOURCE: Novak Djokovic Official WebSite (
read more)
Speaking ahead of an ATP Champions circuit event in South Florida last week, Pete Sampras heralded Nole's current season as the best he's ever seen.
" At least in my lifetime, the best ever ", Sampras told the Palm Beach Post. He also labeled it "one of the best achievements in all of sports."Djokovic's mental approach has been the key, the 14-time Grand Slam champion said.
" I always thought Novak was a bit temperamental and would go through these lapses that would prevent him from winning majors ", Sampras said. " And now you look - he lost the first two sets against Roger and boom! He recovered within a couple of minutes. He's got a short memory now. He's progressed into this great champion. "
This year Nole has a 64-3 record and has won 10 titles including three Grand Slam events.
Just nine months ago, everyone was asking how anyone was going to beat Rafael Nadal. Now, witnessing one of the greatest individual seasons in tennis history, the tennis world is asking the same question about Djokovic.
The Serbian star won three of this year's four majors, two in finals against his predecessor Rafael Nadal.
John McEnroe also paid tribute to Nole for winning his third Grand Slam title of the season and putting together what McEnroe calls " the greatest year in the history of our sport ".
" Novak has taken tennis to new heights ", said the American.
Coming from McEnroe, who himself put together a 82-3 record in 1984, it is quite a statement.
" Djokovic is having the greatest year in the history of our sport, there's no doubt about it", he said. "He bewildered Nadal. I've never seen Nadal look as if he doesn't know what to do – and even on clay in Rome Djokovic made him look like that. "
" Wimbledon was where he separated himself and took himself to a whole new level. He beat Nadal six times in one year and, considering the year Nadal had in 2010, that's pretty hard to do. "
" Just as a single season, I think Djokovic's season is the best since Laver in 1969 ", said Patrick McEnroe, the commentator and former USA Davis Cup captain. SOURCE: Novak Djokovic Official WebSite (
read more)
French Open – Roland Garros (€17,520,000) starts on Sunday, May 22, 2011. The winner of the second Grand Slam of the season will get €1,120,000 and 2000 ATP points, the finalist will get €600,000 and 1200 points.128 players will try to do their best on the courts of the tennis complex during the fifteen days of the competition. The winner will be known on June 5.
Opening round matches will be played during the first three days of the competition, on 20 courts. The main are Philippe Chatrier, Suzanne Lenglen and Court no.1! SOURCE: Novak Djokovic Official WebSite (
read more)
John McEnroe believes that the 37-match winning streak that Novak Djokovic has put together in 2011 is even more impressive than the record-breaking run of 42 wins that the American registered in 1984. McEnroe, who revealed that he is to return to the Royal Albert Hall in London for the AEGON Masters Tennis tournament in December, has been amazed by what he has seen from the Serbian player.
" Given that there's more competition, more athleticism and deeper fields now, I'd say his record is even more impressive than mine ", said McEnroe.
" Especially given that in 1984, the major in Australia was played at the end of the year, whereas he had to win it (as part of his streak). I was coming into my first Grand Slam of the year at the French, where the streak was broken (in the final against Ivan Lendl). So things are different. Also, he came into the year at No.3 and to be able to dominate [higher ranked players] the way he has, well, to put it mildly, it's been quite amazing to see what he's done and how much more confidently he's playing. "
McEnroe, who went on to dismantle Jimmy Connors in one of the greatest Wimbledon performances ever seen in the 1984 final, said that he is actually pulling for Djokovic to break his record.
" I'm quite excited that he might break my record at the French Open ", he said. "Records are made to be broken. It's the definition of mixed emotions. I think I've pretty much lost every record that I had but, at the same time, I know that this has been a shot in the arm for our sport. Everyone knew he was capable, because he had won a major and he showed some heart at the [2010 US] Open, when he came from two match points down [in the semi-final against Roger Federer]. To see what he's done since then, I hasten to say that even he's a little surprised."
The American, who won the title at the Royal Albert Hall in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2003, is looking forward to returning to the ATP Champions Tour event for the first time in three years.
" The London tournament has always been one of my favourite events of the year ", he said. " The crowds are really fantastic, the atmosphere is great and the Royal Albert Hall is one of the most spectacular arenas I've ever played in. I still love to compete and I always play to win so I am training hard to be able to bring my best tennis back to London. " SOURCE: Novak Djokovic Official Webite (
read more)
