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New York No Problem For Novak
By Anton Lagani, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Monday, September 19, 2011 2:15pm PST USA
New York No Problem For Novak Djokovic NEW YORK-- With the summer winding down worldwide, the ATP Tour world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia kept it hot in New York City with a championship victory earlier this month at the US Open.

But for a semifinal French Open loss, Djokovic perhaps could have recorded winning all four of tennis’ major titles in one calendar year or the Grand Slam, the greatest accomplishment in tennis.

Serena Williams of the USA last held all four grand slam titles at once after winning the Australian Open in 2003 to complete a non-calendar Grand Slam.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia | Image: Getty
The US Open 2011, Lawn Tennis Magazine
Down matchpoint in the fifth set versus Federer, the Serbian gambled to strike a stunning crosscourt forehand return winner.

Steffi Graf of Germany, the last winner of the Grand Slam, also took the Summer Olympic gold medal in 1988 to complete a stunning Golden Grand Slam.

In January, Djokovic began his grand slam run where he beat the fifth seeded Andy Murray of Great Britain 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 to take the Australian Open title in Melbourne.

However in June, the Serbian would lose to the third seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland 7-6(7-5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(7-5) in Paris at the French Open to record his only non-retirement defeat of the year.

Then at Wimbledon in July, Djokovic topped the then world number one Rafael Nadal of Spain 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 in the championship final.

In the final grand slam of the year at the US Open, Djokovic faced a rematch versus Federer once again in the semifinal round. Down matchpoint in the fifth set, the Serbian gambled to strike a stunning crosscourt forehand return winner before winning the contest 6-7(7-9), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.

In the final round, the 24 year old topped the second seeded Nadal 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3-7), 6-1.

And although the 25 year old Nadal still leads Djokovic 16-13 in their lifetime head to head match-up, Djokovic won all six meetings between the two players this year to form a stranglehold on the ATP Tour number one ranking.

Djokovic, who replaced Nadal atop the ATP Tour rankings after Wimbledon this year, beat the Spaniard in six ATP Tour finals: Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome, Wimbledon and the US Open.

Djokovic currents owns a 64-2 won-lost ATP Tour record for 2011.

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