Novak Djokovic is having yet another fantastic run in Wimbledon, where he is just 2 steps from equaling Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s 20-slam record.
The Serbian sensation had to face a shocking question at the very beginning of his press conference that followed his victorious match against Marton Fucsovics (6-3 6-4 6-4).
The “bad guy” question
Novak was curiously asked: “What has it been like to be something of the ‘bad guy’ chasing after Roger and Rafa all these years?”
Serbian legend had a great and composed reply to say:
“I don’t consider myself a bad guy. I mean, that’s your opinion,” said 34-year-old Djokovic after his 100th career grass-court win.
I’m not chasing anybody. I’m making my own path and my own journey, my own history. I’m privileged to be part of the history of this sport that I love.
As I said on the court, I know about a lot of stats. I don’t know about all of them. But they do motivate me even more to play my best tennis at the events that count the most in our sport.”
Djokovic in Wimbledon, ranking, and results in 2021
Now ranked no.1, the Serbian achieved a compiled 32-3 match record in 2021. Novak is competing in Wimbledon where he conquered Jack Draper 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-2, Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-3 6-3, Denis Kudla 6-4 6-3 7-67, Cristian Garin 6-2 6-4 6-2 and Marton Fucsovics 6-3 6-4 6-4.
Novak Djokovic will square off with the world no.12 Denis Shapovalov in the semifinal. The head to head is 6-0 for Djokovic.
Djokovic has won 3 titles in 2021 at the Australian Open, in Belgrade and at the French Open. The Serbian was the runner-up in Rome (Internazionali BNL d’Italia).
The Serbian won 84 titles in his career: 48 on hard courts, 17 on clay courts, 13 on indoor courts and 6 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Rafael Nadal in 2021
Now ranked no.3, Rafael played his last match on the 11th of June when he surrendered to world no.1 Novak Djokovic 3-6 6-3 7-6(4) 6-2 in the semifinal of the French Open (draw).
This year the Spaniard has achieved a 23-4 match record. Rafael clinched 2 titles in 2021 in Barcelona and in Rome.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal faced off 58 times. Their head to head is 30-28 for Djokovic. Previously, the last time when they fought against each other, Novak Djokovic won 3-6 6-3 7-6(4) 6-2 in the semifinal in Paris (French Open) on the 11th of June 2021.
Here the highlights.
Roger Federer in 2021
Ranked world no.8, the Swiss played his last match on the 7th of July when he was overcome by world no.18 Hubert Hurkacz 6-3 7-6(4) 6-0 in the quarter of the Wimbledon (draw).
At the moment, during this season Roger has a 9-4 win-loss record.
