Unless Djokovic has some paradigm shift in his game/attitude, he'll forever be an also-ran.
Submitted as evidence:
- Federer may be close to done, but done he ain't. I think Federer's got another Major or two in his back pocket IF he doesn't lose interest ala Borg. Federer has to solve the Nads issue and find a way to win a few or this one matchup good demoralize Federer into retirement....
- Nads is not going anywhere. He and Djokovic are roughly the same age and Nads appears to be faster, better of the ground, willing to change his game for improvement, and hungry. From what I've seen so far, Djokovic isn't any of these things. He's more willing to retire than any top tenner I've seen ever.
- Murray is the unknown. He is good enough to beat Nads and seems to have solved the Nads riddle, winning the last two. Murray is hungry. He wants to win as bad as anyone on tour and he's doing whatever he can to improve.
In a dog fight in the 5th set, I'd bet money on any of the above 3 over Djokovic every time. Further, I think Djokovic did Andy Roddick a big favor at the Australian showing Roddick that he can win against the "new elite" when things get tough.
In summary, I think there is something very special and unique that separates a multi-Major winner from the rest of the ATP tour. That
something is a quality that Djokovic does not possess or at least does not demonstrate. He reminds me somewhat of Kafelnikov, without Kafelnikov's work ethic.
When the going gets tough.......Djokovic retires.......
