With Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal not featuring in this years US Open - the first time both players are missing from a major since the 1999 US Open - there has been some talk around that should Novak Djokovic participate and win, it would be an empty win without his two famous combatants having competed.
This is unfair, and in fact far from the truth.
Djokovic has not lost to Nadal at a major since 2014, and to Federer since 2012.
3-0 Nadal, 6-0 Federer since then, 5 wins in finals amongst those 9.
Djokovic, in recent times, has struggled more against Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, members of the group destined to take over from the acclaimed Big 3.
In 2019, the world #1 lost 11 times, including to:
- Thiem in the Roland Garros semis and at the ATP Finals round robin stage
- Medvedev in the Monte Carlo quarters and Cincinnati semis, both Masters 1000 tournaments.
- Tsitsipas in the Shanghai quarters, another Masters 1000 tournament.
Undefeated in 2020 before everything stopped, Djokovic was however taken to the brink in the Australian Open final by Dominic Thiem.
Whoever wins this years US Open, Djokovic or someone else, will have earned it, just as Nadal did last year. Seven straight best of five set matches is no snack, whatever is on the other side of the net.
Final note - the Spaniard won 2019 without having to meet either Roger or Novak. He played just one top ten player throughout the tournament - Medvedev in the final
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