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Feliciano Lopez, at 34, is a contemporary of Roger Federer's and he has unbridled respect for the extraordinary Swiss maestro.
Also, Lopez, of course, possesses a special affinity and affection for his countryman Rafael Nadal, whose 14 Grand Slams - nine of them won at Roland Garros - are exceeded in the history of the men's game only by Federer's 17.
Lopez's long tenure gives him a unique perspective. His opinion, because of his wealth of experience, matters hugely.
So when he suggests Novak Djokovic, 28, the world No. 1 dominating the ATP World Tour in historic fashion, is the best of the best, period, because he's doing it at a time the game has never had more muscle at the top, it's an opinion worth processing.
Talent gulf widens
"Right now, I see a huge difference between Novak and the rest of the guys," said Lopez, who advanced to Friday's quarterfinals of the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship with a 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory over Lukas Lacko on Thursday. "And it's the way he wins. That's so important. He's giving 50, 60 percent (and winning). But, when he needs more, he finds it.
"I've been taught since I was a kid you always have a chance to win, but when you play against Novak now … a lot of things have to happen for you to have any chance. When Roger and Rafa were at their best, they weren't as good as Novak (is now)."
Note that Lopez is the only man to defeat Djokovic in 29 matches in 2016, after the Serb went 82-6 in 2015 while winning three of the four majors. But Lopez did it by winning only one set - 6-3 - in Dubai, after which the Serb retired with a blinding eye infection. That was the first time he hadn't advanced to a final in 17 tournaments.
But, when the two faced off a couple of weeks later in Indian Wells, all was normal. Djokovic prevailed in routine fashion 6-3, 6-3, improving to 8-0 against Lopez in matches that finished on the court.
"Last year I played one of my best matches of my life against Novak at the U.S. Open," Lopez said, sounding wistful. "I had a break point for going into the fifth set. I was so close."
In the end, though, not really.
Lopez added he's proud to have played during this era against Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. He believes they are tennis' true holy trinity, the greatest threesome, and he's not alone.
Sock impressed
American Jack Sock, 23, who won in Houston a year ago and is back in the quarters after beating Australia's Matthew Barton 6-2, 7-6 (5), lacks Lopez's tenure, but he knows what he's seen and he agrees with the Spaniard, throwing around phrases like "pretty remarkable" and "really impressive." about Djokovic.
"We're playing 25, 35 tournaments a year," Sock said, "and most of us are losing 25, 35 times a year. Also, he's playing five to seven matches in a week and holding up physically, taking great care of his body."
He crossed paths with Djokovic for the first time last summer in the round of 16 of the Masters Level tournament in Montreal. It didn't go well.
"When I held serve and was up 1-0 with a break point," Sock said, "I was feeling pretty good, and then I think I won two more games. Against a lot of the guys out here you're thinking you're in control of points and that you're going to finish them off. But (Djokovic) can turn defense into offense so fast. That's probably his biggest strength."
Asked if he thought it might be bad for tennis to be so under any one man's thumb, Sock said: "I don't think it's bad for the game. If someone's going to dominate, then it's more motivation for all of us. It's kind of like we're all going after Novak now. I know I'm definitely looking forward to playing him again, going toe to toe and seeing where I stack up. All of us, (when we) see his name in the draw. … he's got a bull's-eye on his back."
Grand Slam inevitable?
Which makes Djokovic's continuing to win match after match after match all the more remarkable. Although he doesn't have a career Grand Slam - the French Open title is missing despite his dethroning Nadal there last spring in the semifinals - Lopez thinks it's inevitable.
Although, on a personal level, he would love to see Nadal snare a 10th title at Roland Garros before retiring, Lopez said, "I would be surprised if Novak doesn't win this year."
Also, Lopez, of course, possesses a special affinity and affection for his countryman Rafael Nadal, whose 14 Grand Slams - nine of them won at Roland Garros - are exceeded in the history of the men's game only by Federer's 17.
Lopez's long tenure gives him a unique perspective. His opinion, because of his wealth of experience, matters hugely.
So when he suggests Novak Djokovic, 28, the world No. 1 dominating the ATP World Tour in historic fashion, is the best of the best, period, because he's doing it at a time the game has never had more muscle at the top, it's an opinion worth processing.
Talent gulf widens
"Right now, I see a huge difference between Novak and the rest of the guys," said Lopez, who advanced to Friday's quarterfinals of the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship with a 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory over Lukas Lacko on Thursday. "And it's the way he wins. That's so important. He's giving 50, 60 percent (and winning). But, when he needs more, he finds it.
"I've been taught since I was a kid you always have a chance to win, but when you play against Novak now … a lot of things have to happen for you to have any chance. When Roger and Rafa were at their best, they weren't as good as Novak (is now)."
Note that Lopez is the only man to defeat Djokovic in 29 matches in 2016, after the Serb went 82-6 in 2015 while winning three of the four majors. But Lopez did it by winning only one set - 6-3 - in Dubai, after which the Serb retired with a blinding eye infection. That was the first time he hadn't advanced to a final in 17 tournaments.
But, when the two faced off a couple of weeks later in Indian Wells, all was normal. Djokovic prevailed in routine fashion 6-3, 6-3, improving to 8-0 against Lopez in matches that finished on the court.
"Last year I played one of my best matches of my life against Novak at the U.S. Open," Lopez said, sounding wistful. "I had a break point for going into the fifth set. I was so close."
In the end, though, not really.
Lopez added he's proud to have played during this era against Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. He believes they are tennis' true holy trinity, the greatest threesome, and he's not alone.
Sock impressed
American Jack Sock, 23, who won in Houston a year ago and is back in the quarters after beating Australia's Matthew Barton 6-2, 7-6 (5), lacks Lopez's tenure, but he knows what he's seen and he agrees with the Spaniard, throwing around phrases like "pretty remarkable" and "really impressive." about Djokovic.
"We're playing 25, 35 tournaments a year," Sock said, "and most of us are losing 25, 35 times a year. Also, he's playing five to seven matches in a week and holding up physically, taking great care of his body."
He crossed paths with Djokovic for the first time last summer in the round of 16 of the Masters Level tournament in Montreal. It didn't go well.
"When I held serve and was up 1-0 with a break point," Sock said, "I was feeling pretty good, and then I think I won two more games. Against a lot of the guys out here you're thinking you're in control of points and that you're going to finish them off. But (Djokovic) can turn defense into offense so fast. That's probably his biggest strength."
Asked if he thought it might be bad for tennis to be so under any one man's thumb, Sock said: "I don't think it's bad for the game. If someone's going to dominate, then it's more motivation for all of us. It's kind of like we're all going after Novak now. I know I'm definitely looking forward to playing him again, going toe to toe and seeing where I stack up. All of us, (when we) see his name in the draw. … he's got a bull's-eye on his back."
Grand Slam inevitable?
Which makes Djokovic's continuing to win match after match after match all the more remarkable. Although he doesn't have a career Grand Slam - the French Open title is missing despite his dethroning Nadal there last spring in the semifinals - Lopez thinks it's inevitable.
Although, on a personal level, he would love to see Nadal snare a 10th title at Roland Garros before retiring, Lopez said, "I would be surprised if Novak doesn't win this year."