No one need manage his schedule more carefully than Novak Djokovic. He played more matches than any other on tour in 2015, though played fewer tournaments than most, because he always makes the final. What about 2016? Can we dream of a Calendar Slam? He only managed one Slam in 2012, after a magical 2011 with 3 Slams, but it seems that he understands how to keep his equilibrium better this time around, knowing when and how to peak for the big events.
Enter 2016: Let's hypothesize: Djokovic should be the favourite entering every tournament, barring some unforseen surge from a rejuvenated Rafa, a freakish Stan, a lights out Federer, or what have you. Nole will be the heavy favourite at his best Slam in Australia. So, then he enters Paris with one Slam under his belt. And low and behold, he conquers his fears and inner demons, and prepares himself as best he can for any insane performance a la Wawrinka 2015 Final. He wins Roland Garros, is on a 4 Slam win streak (A Djokovic Slam and completes the Career Slam, winning the French for first in his career) and is truly on could nine.
Now he enters Wimbledon, with everyone gunning for him with hardened resolve. Can he muster 3 Wimbys in a row? At least the French monkey's off his back, and dare one say, he could play Wimbledon with a new found freedom and ease, having conquered Paris? A strong possibility!! Who can challenge him on grass these days? The best of all time on grass, Roger Federer, lost twice in a row to Nole. Are any surprise contenders lurking? Let's hope he's dialed in after the emotional high of winning Roland Garros. Alas, Novak has pulled off the near-unthinkable, five Slams in a row and three in 2016.
Now the biggest and craziest questions start being asked: Can Nole win a Calendar Slam? This is where things get very interesting and very complicated. Up until this point, Nole has managed his playing schedule as any other year, though he may consider playing Madrid this year back to back with Rome, so that he can opt out of Cincinatti as his one permissible Masters 1000 tournament as per the ATP rules. However, Madrid could complicate his meticulously planned scheduling of not wanting to play back to back tournaments without a week's rest in between. He doesn't want to over tax himself and feel any lingering fatigue come Roland Garros, which starts a week after Rome.
Why skip Cincinnati, you might ask? It's the last Masters tournament missing on his resume and would elevate his legacy further with another unique record attached to his name? Well, because Novak covets an Olympic gold almost as high (or perhaps more) than winning a Slam or Major, never mind a Cincinnati Masters. And the schedule is rather unforgiving in August. The Olympic Games for tennis starts August 8th, and would the final match would be a week later (August 15th), the same day Cincinnati would start (though Djokovic would likely play his second round match a few days later if he decided to participate). Novak has said that he will prioritize to peak and play his best in Rio, and one can assume that it will likely carry the same type of weight and urgency of winning Roland Garros for him--alas the next Olympics will be 4 years away, and that's a long time in tennis career.
And yet, in the feverish anticipation of the Olympics, one must keep Flushing Meadows in one's vision and plans. Djokovic must carefully decide whether he can not only physically but emotionally put himself through the rigours of Rio and New York in the space of 2 weeks, and not self-destruct, as indestructible as he's been in 2015. It would be a terribly difficult but lovely predicament to be in--one that any pro player would love to find themselves in: can I win both Rio and the US Open? Even for Djokovic's gluten-free, dairy-free, chocolate and alcohol free and any indulgence-free standard, it's an almost impossible ask! Either way you look at it, if Djokovic could win either, it would be a year for the ages: a Calendar Slam or 3 Slams + Olympic Gold. To my mind, a Calendar Slam should be the priority, for posterity's sake. When tennis fans and casual sports fans ever look back on the greats of the ages in 20, 30 or 50 years from now they'll sooner remember a Calendar Slam than anything else.
As I said, if Novak Djokovic can win Melbourne, Paris and Wimbledon in 2016, the questions will become deliciously complicated in regards to Rio and New York? But hey, let's not get too ahead of ourselves: let's start with the conquest of Australia first.
Enter 2016: Let's hypothesize: Djokovic should be the favourite entering every tournament, barring some unforseen surge from a rejuvenated Rafa, a freakish Stan, a lights out Federer, or what have you. Nole will be the heavy favourite at his best Slam in Australia. So, then he enters Paris with one Slam under his belt. And low and behold, he conquers his fears and inner demons, and prepares himself as best he can for any insane performance a la Wawrinka 2015 Final. He wins Roland Garros, is on a 4 Slam win streak (A Djokovic Slam and completes the Career Slam, winning the French for first in his career) and is truly on could nine.
Now he enters Wimbledon, with everyone gunning for him with hardened resolve. Can he muster 3 Wimbys in a row? At least the French monkey's off his back, and dare one say, he could play Wimbledon with a new found freedom and ease, having conquered Paris? A strong possibility!! Who can challenge him on grass these days? The best of all time on grass, Roger Federer, lost twice in a row to Nole. Are any surprise contenders lurking? Let's hope he's dialed in after the emotional high of winning Roland Garros. Alas, Novak has pulled off the near-unthinkable, five Slams in a row and three in 2016.
Now the biggest and craziest questions start being asked: Can Nole win a Calendar Slam? This is where things get very interesting and very complicated. Up until this point, Nole has managed his playing schedule as any other year, though he may consider playing Madrid this year back to back with Rome, so that he can opt out of Cincinatti as his one permissible Masters 1000 tournament as per the ATP rules. However, Madrid could complicate his meticulously planned scheduling of not wanting to play back to back tournaments without a week's rest in between. He doesn't want to over tax himself and feel any lingering fatigue come Roland Garros, which starts a week after Rome.
Why skip Cincinnati, you might ask? It's the last Masters tournament missing on his resume and would elevate his legacy further with another unique record attached to his name? Well, because Novak covets an Olympic gold almost as high (or perhaps more) than winning a Slam or Major, never mind a Cincinnati Masters. And the schedule is rather unforgiving in August. The Olympic Games for tennis starts August 8th, and would the final match would be a week later (August 15th), the same day Cincinnati would start (though Djokovic would likely play his second round match a few days later if he decided to participate). Novak has said that he will prioritize to peak and play his best in Rio, and one can assume that it will likely carry the same type of weight and urgency of winning Roland Garros for him--alas the next Olympics will be 4 years away, and that's a long time in tennis career.
And yet, in the feverish anticipation of the Olympics, one must keep Flushing Meadows in one's vision and plans. Djokovic must carefully decide whether he can not only physically but emotionally put himself through the rigours of Rio and New York in the space of 2 weeks, and not self-destruct, as indestructible as he's been in 2015. It would be a terribly difficult but lovely predicament to be in--one that any pro player would love to find themselves in: can I win both Rio and the US Open? Even for Djokovic's gluten-free, dairy-free, chocolate and alcohol free and any indulgence-free standard, it's an almost impossible ask! Either way you look at it, if Djokovic could win either, it would be a year for the ages: a Calendar Slam or 3 Slams + Olympic Gold. To my mind, a Calendar Slam should be the priority, for posterity's sake. When tennis fans and casual sports fans ever look back on the greats of the ages in 20, 30 or 50 years from now they'll sooner remember a Calendar Slam than anything else.
As I said, if Novak Djokovic can win Melbourne, Paris and Wimbledon in 2016, the questions will become deliciously complicated in regards to Rio and New York? But hey, let's not get too ahead of ourselves: let's start with the conquest of Australia first.