Novak Djokovic, the World No. 1 from Serbia, is one match away from completing the Calendar Slam at the 2021 US Open. In other words, he’s within striking distance of becoming the first guy since 1969 to win all four major events in the same year. Naturally, the stakes for this match will be enormous.
Former tennis star Lindsay Davenport made a fascinating connection between Djokovic’s 2015 season and Serena Williams. Serena Williams, like the Serb, had entered the US Open in 2015 in search of the Calendar Slam. She had even advanced to the semi-finals.
She finally buckled under the mountain of expectations, coming undone against Roberta Vinci.
Davenport Opinion
Lindsay Davenport, a three-time Grand Slam champion, stated that “no one can even possibly fathom” the pressure on Djokovic. She immediately remembered how Serena Williams’ 2015 US Open campaign ended due to pressure.
Davenport said, “Serena, in 2015, came the closest, and we thought it was a foregone conclusion when you went into the semifinals to play Roberto Vinci, to play Fabio Planetta. But it was the pressure that got to her.”
“He knows what he’s playing for, and it’s not hindering him ”
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) September 11, 2021
– @LDavenport76
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In addition, Bryan Brothers and Gigi Fernandez, who were attempting a Career Slam in doubles, had predicted Serena’s defeat. The former World No. 1 then explained why they were correct in their prediction.
However, given Djokovic’s huge banks of mental strength, Davenport laid some support behind claims that he could pull off the unthinkable.
“How much credit can we give Novak? Because for six matches, he’s looked just fine. He hasn’t cracked under pressure; he’s been so focused. And I loved this quote the other night after beating Zverev,” she said.
“He knows what he’s playing for, and it is not hindering him,” she concluded.
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