Novak Djokovic long ago established himself as a generational champion.
But when the 36-year-old Serb took the Arthur Ashe Stadium court Monday night to cap off the first day of the U.S. Open, he did so as the rarest of breeds.
As a multi-generational champion seeking to add one more title to his belt.
And, for the first time in Queens, going about his business as the People’s Choice.
This is not an exact comparison because there probably isn’t one across the tapestry of pro sports that serves as a better fit. Djokovic emerging from the rivalry with contemporary Big Three members Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal to engage in what has become a riveting competition with 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz is nearly tantamount to Jack Nicklaus going from succeeding Arnold Palmer to then going toe-to-toe with Tiger Woods.
Guess what? In the 1998 Masters at Augusta, the 58-year-old Golden Bear finished in a tie for sixth place. He finished two strokes ahead of a 22-year-old Woods.
That was, of course, remarkable. But that was also a one-off. It was Nicklaus’ last hurrah.
In contrast, the hurrahs that Djokovic received throughout his opening-round match in which he squashed 26-year-old Frenchman Alexandre Muller, 6-0, 6-2, 6-3, in a 95-minute match that began at 11:05 p.m., represented something fairly novel.
Because while Djokovic was a part of the tour’s Holy Trinity, he was a distant third in popularity in these parts to Roger Federer, who retired last year, and to Rafal Nadal, who has not played since January in the Australian Open, and is rehabbing from hip surgery.
Time did not wait for The Big Three.
But Djokovic found the way to stop the clock.
He has won six Grand Slam tournaments since turning 32, including this year’s French Open in which he conquered Alcaraz in the semifinals. That alone would place him in a tie for 22nd all-time in majors. He has advanced to the final of eight of the last nine majors in which he has competed over the past three years.
And now he is gunning for No. 24, with Alcaraz looming on the other half of the draw. The tennis world is yearning for this matchup in the final just as for years folks thirsted for Federer-Nadal and before that, Pete Sampras-Andre Agassi and before that, John McEnroe-Jimmy Connors.
In pro sports, there is always a next generation to tickle the imagination.
In tennis, there is Djokovic to bridge generations while creating this electric rivalry with defending Open champion Alcaraz, who won this tournament a year ago while the Serb was banned from competing because he had not adhered to COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
Gen vs. Next Gen? After Djokovic defeated a cramping Alcaraz at Roland Garros, the Spaniard came back to defeat his rival in a memorable five-setter in the final at Wimbledon. Those two matches preceded a classic in the Cincinnati stifling heat just a week ago in which Djokovic saved a match point to take the crown.
A Djokovic-Alcaraz final is not preordained. The top two Americans in the men’s draw, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, respectively, each rolled to impressive straight-set victories Monday. Third-seeded Daniil Medvedev is lurking … just as he did in 2021 when he was the party of the other part of the most disappointing day of Djokovic’s career.
Which was also the very day New York adopted Djokovic as a native son.
The Serb had come into the final of the 2021 Open with the opportunity to become the first man to win the calendar Grand Slam since the fabled Rod Laver had accomplished the feat in 1969.
But just as the Giants ruined the Patriots’ perfect season in Super Bowl XLII, Medvedev did the same on that Sunday evening Sept. 12. The crowd seemed somewhat split. Djokovic was still considered an interloper. His chase of history was not embraced.
The Russian steam-rolled Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, in the opening two sets. When he served for the match at 5-2 in the third, he was broken for the first time. And the crowd not only stirred but saluted the Serb. Allegiances began to shift. Djokovic then held for 4-5 and sat in his chair, head bowed, when the rumble began.
“Novak! Novak! Novak!”
It was thunderous. It was momentous.
It did not change the outcome, Medvedev holding to close out the stunning 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, but it did construct a late-in-tennis-life sea change for Djokovic.
“It touched my heart,” the defeated yet uplifted runner-up said soon after leaving the court. “It was very, very special.”
The love affair endures.
Last year’s absence made the heart grow fonder.
Djokovic is not only a multi-generational champion. He is, after all this time, the People’s Choice.