Novak Djokovic: A Serbian warrior invading the final frontier

If sport were raw battle, Novak Djokovic would be a marauding warrior galloping intently towards the fortress at Roland Garros. It is the only remaining realm, standing between Djokovic and unhindered domination. With less than three weeks to the start of the 112^th French Open, Madrid and Rome are playing host to the inevitable skirmishes ahead of the actual combat. The world No.1 has established a firm grip over vast tracts of the tennis empire. But there is still a long reigning Spanish King who is holding firm from the dust bowls of Europe to thwart the Serbian’s campaign for undisputed supremacy.

The French Open is the only major title missing in the bulging collection of Djokovic. Even though the Serbian won his maiden grand slam at Melbourne in 2008, he had to wait till the US Open in 2010 for his next appearance in a grand slam final. By then though, Djokovic had begun to plot his assault on the crown. And his desire was stoked into a raging firestorm inspired by that sensational Serbian triumph in the Davis Cup finals of 2010.

After all, he was stymied long enough by a couple of steadfast men at the helm of the tour. The Serbian had already adopted a scientific, minutely detailed training regimen in 2010 to reinvent himself into a mean machine capable of taking on the collective might of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The duo had established an oligarchy that had a stranglehold over the big events on the ATP World Tour. Djokovic stormed into their bastion with vigour to break their duopoly with definite authority.

A consistent Andy Murray added to the texture even as the tour reveled in the new found wealth of the Serbian’s exuberance, resolve and assurance. But then there was one piece of the puzzle that wouldn’t fall in place for Djokovic. Even at the height of his powers in 2011, he met with an inspired Federer who took down the Serbian in four hard fought sets to deny him a place in the finals of the French Open.

Eventually, Djokovic reached his first final at Roland Garros last year. Incessant rain and an obdurate Nadal combined to deny the Serbian again in four sets over two miserable days. An intense desire to plug the only real hole on his resume is beginning to gnaw away at Djokovic. The fact that he won both Madrid and Rome in convincing fashion in 2011 underlined the Serbian’s comfort on the European shale.

After an incessant battle for elusive answers, Djokovic must have experienced a sudden surge of confidence in Monte Carlo last month. On a surface, that is deemed slower than Paris, Djokovic stamped out Nadal with disparaging ease. At a club that the Spaniard literally owned, the world No.1 nearly routed the King of Clay. It was a convincing argument, but the debate is still raging.

As the big four line up at Madrid, there is more at stake for Djokovic than the other three. He has Nadal on the ropes, now can he bruise him? Can he induce doubt into the unshakeable mind of the Spaniard as they roll into Paris? Like heavyweight boxers lining up for the quintessential weigh in, the onus is on the Serbian to jostle for space. And nudge Nadal just enough to shake him off his steady feet.

There is no questioning the weapons at his disposal – Djokovic has a lethal backhand that has troubled Nadal more than any other stroke in tennis, especially on clay. The sheer bestial brilliance of the tussle between Nadal’s forehand and Djokovic’s backhand has ignited Europe. The flames of excitement are only fuelled by Djokovic’s willingness to step in on the ball and whip it on the raise. It is a venomous response that is depriving Nadal the crucial seconds needed to run around the deuce court and bring his forehand into play.

The long reign of Nadal is under stress. The spectators are licking their lips in anticipation of the pleasure from watching these gladiators strain every sinew possible. In Melbourne at the beginning of the year and in Flushing Meadows later last year, Nadal and Djokovic fought with primal urgency for hours on end. It is these enduring battles that characterised the growing intensity of their definitive rivalry.

And even as Roland Garros assumes the contours of a coliseum, the road to the amphitheatre leads them through the by lanes of Madrid and Rome. It will be important for Djokovic to strike a telling blow or two, most importantly in Rome. The Serbian made a dent in Monte Carlo, but he needs to excavate deeper in the next two weeks. Nadal is after all a seven time champion in Paris and the familiar flavours of Paris always bring the best out of the Mallorcan.

The layered narrative is made even more complicated by the rankings – if Nadal remains world No.5 there is a possibility that the two best men at the moment could even meet in the quarters or semis in Paris. As anti-climaxes go, it could not get any worse than that for the expectant fans. It would be entirely ironic for these men to indulge in a battle of attrition with no prize in sight.

After years of procession like certainty about the clay season, the air is pregnant with possibilities – will Nadal enhance his reputation even further or Djokovic complete his career grand slam? The script is being readied even as we dwell on these thoughts and irrespective of the outcome a thrilling story is waiting to be told.