Is Novak's dominance in world tennis the best zero to hero story?

[steenkash]

Yeah he had won a slam in 2008, but it looked like Andy the Great would eventually surpass novak, and the big 3 would have been Roger, Rafa and Andy.

But after that freak season in 2011, novak has now reached 20 GS, equivalent to Fedal.
I have to say, Jamie Vardys ascent to being one of the best strikers in the world is one of my favourite zero to hero stories, but this one is amazing too. He was written off as someone who gives up too easily, now he is someone who ends up Wimbledon champion after being match point down.

 

[socallefty]

He was the top seed in Under 14 and Under 16 age group for European juniors. He got into the top 3 in the world in 2007 and made his first Slam final. He won his first Slam at the 2008AO at the young age of 20 beating Federer in the semifinal. He has always been considered a potential ATG from a young age by most tennis experts and was never a ‘Zero’.

He had a drop in form after winning the 2008AO in terms of winning Slams, but he continued to win enough smaller titles to stay in the top 3 in the world till late 2009. So, I would say that there was only a 3-year period in 2008-2010 after his AO win where tennis experts questioned his future to be at an ATG level especially due to his physical issues and match retirements. After the Fall of 2010, it has been a steady climb to the top of the sport except for the 2-year interlude in 2016-2018 when he had elbow/personal issues.

 

[merwy]

Uzumaki Naruto was a talentless orphan that grew up to be the Hokage and save the world. I think that beats being the best tennis player.

 

[Strale]

Uzumaki Naruto was a talentless orphan that grew up to be the Hokage and save the world. I think that beats being the best tennis player.

Goku was a low class saiyan soldier with strength of a peak human who worked hard and saved universe multiple times...

 

[FlamingCheeto]

yep sure is, Nadal and Fed are nothing, never were and Djoker is the undisputed King and we need many more threads to remind us of his greatness and dominance!

 

[One]

His story is beautiful, and really motivational to young kids. Showing great talent during junior carrer, winning a slam and finishing as No 3 for 4 straight year, having to deal with 2 goats. And then playing highest ever level of tennis and finishing carrer as the goat.

 

[junior74]

Hero now? I thought he was the villain.

Djokovic was no zero at all. Very talented from an early age and a top player ever since 2008 (with the exception being the freak 2017).

 

[stringertom]

He was the top seed in Under 14 and Under 16 age group for European juniors. He got into the top 3 in the world in 2007 and made his first Slam final. He won his first Slam at the 2008AO at the young age of 20 beating Federer in the semifinal. He has always been considered a potential ATG from a young age by most tennis experts and was never a ‘Zero’.

He had a drop in form after winning the 2008AO in terms of winning Slams, but he continued to win enough smaller titles to stay in the top 3 in the world till late 2009. So, I would say that there was only a 3-year period in 2008-2010 after his AO win where tennis experts questioned his future to be at an ATG level especially due to his physical issues and match retirements. After the Fall of 2010, it has been a steady climb to the top of the sport except for the 2-year interlude in 2016-2018 when he had elbow/personal issues.

This!

Also, OP: does this have a Pro Match Results content or do you fear the flaming this thread would receive in Generally Poor Personal Decision to enter section? If that’s your motive, I feel for your pain. I try to stay out of there as much as possible.

 

[stringertom]

Yeah he had won a slam in 2008, but it looked like Andy the Great would eventually surpass novak, and the big 3 would have been Roger, Rafa and Andy.

But after that freak season in 2011, novak has now reached 20 GS, equivalent to Fedal.
I have to say, Jamie Vardys ascent to being one of the best strikers in the world is one of my favourite zero to hero stories, but this one is amazing too. He was written off as someone who gives up too easily, now he is someone who ends up Wimbledon champion after being match point down.

Sorry; hit wrong buttons but see my post above.^^^

 

[stringertom]

Hero now? I thought he was the villain.

Djokovic was no zero at all. Very talented from an early age and a top player ever since 2008 (with the exception being the freak 2017).

Do you ever wonder how quickly and far he would have gone under Piatti if he hadn’t run the coach away with the exclusivity demand? I’m guessing the 2008-10 drought would have been much less severe.

 

[Nostradamus]

There seem like lots of hero worshippers in Japan ....

 

[Deleted member 771911]

Best zero to hero story is Connors.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Goku was a low class saiyan soldier with strength of a peak human who worked hard and saved universe multiple times...

Epic

 

[gjm127]

Yeah he had won a slam in 2008, but it looked like Andy the Great would eventually surpass novak, and the big 3 would have been Roger, Rafa and Andy.

But after that freak season in 2011, novak has now reached 20 GS, equivalent to Fedal.
I have to say, Jamie Vardys ascent to being one of the best strikers in the world is one of my favourite zero to hero stories, but this one is amazing too. He was written off as someone who gives up too easily, now he is someone who ends up Wimbledon champion after being match point down.

And Federer was a point away from beating so-called freak peak 2011 Djokovic twice in Grand Slam SFs that year.

Sigh.

 

[coloskier]

Nope, he'll always be a zero in my book. Makes Jimmy Connors and McEnroe look like nice guys.

 

[BorisRogerFan]

Adolf Hitler: from zero, a non-entity, to hero; and eventually from hero to Devil.

 

[Djokovic2015]

Uzumaki Naruto was a talentless orphan that grew up to be the Hokage and save the world. I think that beats being the best tennis player.

Shippuden basically destroyed Naruto's "hardwork beats talent" underdog story when it was later revealed that Naruto was:

1)On his mom's side descended from the clan with the most chakra reserves in existence
2)The reincarnation of a literal demigod, possessing all of his latent abilities
3)Given access to all of Kurama's Chakra powers to use in battle

Basically Naruto ended up having the most natural ability of anyone in existence (besides maybe Sasuke) that no one could replicate, and is the only reason why he could do what he did. Talentless hardworkers like Rock Lee proved to be useless in the end game.

 

[Picmun]

 

[PDJ]

If you want "zero to hero" here's one: