The third leg of the Grand Slam

[Fedeonic]

Novak Djokovic is in the same position that Rod Laver and Björn Borg were before. Just one match away from completing the third leg of the Calendar Grand Slam. Let's see how both fared when playing the final match of the Grand Slam third leg of the potential CYGS:
-Rod Laver: Wimbledon 1969 - d. Newcombe 64 57 64 64
-Björn Borg (1): US Open 1978 - l. Connors 46 26 26
-Björn Borg (2): US Open 1980 - l. McEnroe 67(4) 16 76(5) 75 46
-Novak Djokovic: Wimbledon 2021 - d. Berrettini 67(4) 64 64 63

Djokovic and Borg reached the final of the CYGS third leg while playing it in 3 different surfaces. The Swede played in an era where the Aus Open was played as the final GS of the year, so Björn first won RG, then WB and reached the USO final. Only the Australian went out to win the final and then the fourth leg of the CYGS.

Discuss.

Edit: Djokovic is the first male player to win the third leg of the Grand Slam on 3 different surfaces. Now onto the US Open.

 

[topher]

Honorable mention: Connors was robbed of/banned from the 2nd leg of it in 1974 but he won the other 3.

Berretini is certainly not at the level of those other opponents. I think the main suspense is whether he’ll win a set? I actually think he could but I wouldn’t bet on it.

 

[Adman]

When so much history is on the line, and the stars also align for the opponent (Berrettini having entered Wawrinka mode, way above his normal capabilities) prognosis is poor for the challenger.

We'll see, but this is going to be a Churchill blood, sweat and tears victory for Djokovic - if he makes it.

 

[Fedeonic]

Honorable mention: Connors was robbed of/banned from the 2nd leg of it in 1974 but he won the other 3.

It's a little tricky one there, since Jimbo never reached the RG final, but he indeed was banned in 1974-1977, all peak Connors years.

 

[topher]

It's a little tricky one there, since Jimbo never reached the RG final, but he indeed was banned in 1974-1977, all peak Connors years.

That was his best shot imo, he had the edge on Borg at that stage in their careers and it was Bjorn’s first RG.

Honestly red clay should’ve and probably would’ve been a much better surface for an elite returner and fighter like Jimmy if he had not been banned from it in those crucial years.

He still hit the ball too flat to ever be great on it though probably.

 

[Fedeonic]

That was his best shot imo, he had the edge on Borg at that stage in their careers and it was Bjorn’s first RG.

Honestly red clay should’ve and probably would’ve been a much better surface for an elite returner and fighter like Jimmy if he had not been banned from it in those crucial years.

He still hit the ball too flat to ever be great on it though probably.

That was Björn's second RG, in 1973, he lost to Panatta.
In the H2H, both were tied 3-3 on clay matches, but all of those matches were on American clay, which is clearly faster than the European clay.

 

[topher]

That was Björn's second RG, in 1973, he lost to Panatta.
In the H2H, both were tied 3-3 on clay matches, but all of those matches were on American clay, which is clearly faster than the European clay.

I meant the first RG Borg won, he was only 18 I believe.

I also meant their H2H early in their careers, Jimmy would win the next 6 matches starting in 1974 before Borg beat him in 1977.

Jimmy never really played the Euro red clay much, and who can blame him when he was banned from it. So it doesn’t surprise me they never played there. No doubt Borg would lead overall, but 1974 was not the overall.

Jimmy certainly would’ve had a good shot, probably would’ve been the favorite at the time, against teenage Borg in his first slam final. I think the bigger question would be whether he made the final.

 

[Nadal_King]

Djokovic gets the CYGS, then loses in 2nd rd at Ao to Kyrgios and Rafa wins his double career grand slam and Rg to make it 22-21 with Djokovic winning wimbledon again and at Us open 2022 it's Match to decide who reaches 23

 

[jm1980]

Honorable mention: Connors was robbed of/banned from the 2nd leg of it in 1974 but he won the other 3.

Berretini is certainly not at the level of those other opponents. I think the main suspense is whether he’ll win a set? I actually think he could but I wouldn’t bet on it.

He was less "robbed" and more punished for his mistake of joining WTT

 

[topher]

He was less "robbed" and more punished for his mistake of joining WTT

Nobody bans anyone for playing the WTT or any other leagues nowadays.

He was punished more for being born at the wrong time than anything. If that’s not “robbed” idk what is.

 

[King_olaf_the_hairy]

Novak Djokovic is in the same position that Rod Laver and Björn Borg were before. Just one match away from completing the third leg of the Calendar Grand Slam. Let's see how both fared when playing the 21st match of the potential CYGS

Laver's 21st match was the US Open R2 match, since he'd only played five matches at the AO (a 48-player draw that year). Only took him 26 matches to complete the CYGS. (And only 25 in 1962 because of the smaller Aussie and French draws that year). Don Budge also only needed 24 matches for his '38 CYGS.

If Djokovic can complete the slam he'll be the first man who had to win 28 matches to do so (assuming he doesn't get any walkovers).

 

[Antonio Puente]

The Calendar Year Berrettini would be an amazing accomplishment.

 

[The Guru]

Nadal fans would also be in shambles because then they'd lose their precious surface slam too

 

[Deleted member 771911]

Nadal fans wouldn’t lose the surface slam. They would just share the achievement with Djokovic fans.
Next!

 

[Kralingen]

On the subject, I believe that if Djokovic wins Sunday he will break the record for most times winning 3 Slams consecutively (4).

Federer has done it 3x, Borg done it twice, Laver only once surprisingly.

 

[Tenacity]

On the subject, I believe that if Djokovic wins Sunday he will break the record for most times winning 3 Slams consecutively (4).

Federer has done it 3x, Borg done it twice, Laver only once surprisingly.

But does he have a rolex?

 

[ChrisRF]

On the subject, I believe that if Djokovic wins Sunday he will break the record for most times winning 3 Slams consecutively (4).

Federer has done it 3x, Borg done it twice, Laver only once surprisingly.

Borg never did it. He only ever won French Open or Wimbledon.

 

[BGod]

It's a little tricky one there, since Jimbo never reached the RG final, but he indeed was banned in 1974-1977, all peak Connors years.

That was his best shot imo, he had the edge on Borg at that stage in their careers and it was Bjorn’s first RG.

Honestly red clay should’ve and probably would’ve been a much better surface for an elite returner and fighter like Jimmy if he had not been banned from it in those crucial years.

He still hit the ball too flat to ever be great on it though probably.

Much can be learned from Connors' participation on red clay in his post prime years. He made SF at the French in 79-80 losing to Pecci & Gerulaitis, the later match being in 5 and up 2-1. Gerulaitis would lose straight forward to Borg but at least part can be attributed to the long Connors match beforehand. At 1981 Monte Carlo, Connors played Vilas in the final and it was 5-5 before the match was "abandoned" in the first set.

Now with the 74 French, first off Connors at that point would come in ranked 4th. So he'd be in section 3 and face Orantes in the R16, who would go on to lose to Borg in the final. Keep in mind Orantes was up 2-0 and then Borg went clutch city. I'm not sure Connors would have blown a 2-0 lead like that and it's quite clear Orantes was the only guy to stand in Connors' way to the final. So what was Connors' record against Orantes? 6-1 but only 1-1 on clay with Orantes beating Jimmy at 73 Cincy. However the 75 USO on clay saw Orantes beat Connors in straights. So by no means a certainty.

 

[Spencer Gore]

On the subject, I believe that if Djokovic wins Sunday he will break the record for most times winning 3 Slams consecutively (4).

Federer has done it 3x, Borg done it twice, Laver only once surprisingly.

Not very surprising Laver only managed it once considering he didn't play any slams for five years during his prime.

 

[topher]

Much can be learned from Connors' participation on red clay in his post prime years. He made SF at the French in 79-80 losing to Pecci & Gerulaitis, the later match being in 5 and up 2-1. Gerulaitis would lose straight forward to Borg but at least part can be attributed to the long Connors match beforehand. At 1981 Monte Carlo, Connors played Vilas in the final and it was 5-5 before the match was "abandoned" in the first set.

Now with the 74 French, first off Connors at that point would come in ranked 4th. So he'd be in section 3 and face Orantes in the R16, who would go on to lose to Borg in the final. Keep in mind Orantes was up 2-0 and then Borg went clutch city. I'm not sure Connors would have blown a 2-0 lead like that and it's quite clear Orantes was the only guy to stand in Connors' way to the final. So what was Connors' record against Orantes? 6-1 but only 1-1 on clay with Orantes beating Jimmy at 73 Cincy. However the 75 USO on clay saw Orantes beat Connors in straights. So by no means a certainty.

I completely agree with your analysis. No way to know if Connors would win or lose, it’s just a bit of a shame he didn’t get the chance.

What if Novak missed RG in 2011, or got banned from the USO this year for something off the court? Just wouldn’t be right. It’s good he didn’t have this great year last year when Wimbledon was cancelled, the what if’s would’ve been maddening.

As you said, Jimmy made 8 straight quarterfinals when he finally returned to RG. So I’ve always found it silly to those who discount his chances completely. Krygios has built this reputation as a grass court player off a single quarterfinal, and yet somehow Jimmy is a scrub on red clay making 8 straight quarters and 4 semis post-prime.

 

[Fedeonic]

Djokovic is the first male player to win the third leg of the Grand Slam on 3 different surfaces. Now onto the US Open.

Discuss.