The rise and rise of Novak Djokovic

2011 has so far been a game of numbers for Serbian ace Novak Djokovic.

Consider these figures: Nine titles. Five Masters 1000 titles. A staggering 57-2 match record, with 33-1 on hard courts.
"I am human - I can definitely assure you of that," said the Serb after lifting his Rogers Cup trophy in Montreal. His flummoxed opponents might disagree with him.
As an incredulous tennis fraternity watches Djokovic's run of success in awe, the question on everyone's minds is: how long can it last?
Just last week the top seed showed he was not infallible when he was forced to retire in his final against Andy Murray in Cincinnati, citing exhaustion and shoulder pains. While he could have persevered, he claimed it did not make sense to take the risk.
"I am confident that I can recover and be ready for the US Open," he told reporters. The week leading up to Flushing Meadows will be a crucial one, and should Djokovic regain the form he exhibited before his injury, he is set to go far in the tournament.
Looking at those hoping to edge him out on the rankings, it seems that they will have a tough fight on their hands. Andy Murray is too inconsistent, with the tendency to choke when it matters most. While Roger Federer has beaten Djokovic this year in Roland Garros, he has also lost to him in three straight matches (Melbourne, Dubai and Indian Wells). And besides toppling Rafael Nadal from his 57 consecutive weeks at No.1, Djokovic has also beaten the Spaniard in four ATP World Tour Masters 1000 finals.
More recently, all three challengers to Djokovic have also suffered surprise exits in the recent Rogers Cup, with Nadal and Federer struggling in the Western and Southern Open. These defeats do not bode well for their chances.
That being said, no one would dare suggest that the reason for Djokovic's success is due to his rivals' faltering performances. Mardy Fish, who was beaten by Djokovic in the Rogers Cup final, said that the latter "has no weaknesses... there is no safe place to hit the ball". The hard work that the Serb and his team have been putting in (from regulated diets to specialised balancing drills) has finally paid off - Djokovic is faster, quicker, his serve is improved and his play more aggressive. What his opponents find so frustrating is his ability to move from defensive returns to offensive play, from seemingly irretrievable angles.
This aggressiveness that Djokovic displays in his tennis is a reflection of his hot temper. "You don't want to know what was happening in my head," he once said ruefully a year ago. Incensed with poor performances in Dubai and Wimbledon, he vented his frustration by abusing his racquet.
"I can work on some things, but my temper is my temper. My character is my character. You have to try to take the best out of it, not change it," he insisted. True to his word, in recent months he has caged his inner demons in his rise to the apex of the sport. And perhaps this is the secret to Djokovic's success - six years after his Grand Slam debut, he has taken his natural competitiveness and now wields it as a weapon.
With the world wondering if the new No.1 is possibly flying too close to the sun, self-doubt is a luxury that he cannot afford.
"To be the best is what drives me," he said, claiming that his focus is always on how many matches he wins. He matched those words to his actions by winning the Rogers Cup, becoming the first player since Pete Sampras in 1993 to win an ATP tournament on debut as No.1. When asked to comment if he could surpass the 82-3 record John McEnroe set in 1984, Djokovic professed ignorance of McEnroe's feat, but said that it was now "something to fight for".
Come 29 August, all eyes will be on Flushing Meadows to see if Djokovic can claim yet another win on his beloved hard courts, and continue his walk in McEnroe's footsteps. If the performances the Serb has turned out so far are anything to go by, the Rafas and the Rogers of the tennis world have their work cut out for them.