Novak Djokovic: Will world No 1 close gap on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal or will rivals catch up?

It ought to have been the 12 months of Novak Djokovic. Maybe it nonetheless was, however not fairly in the best way it appeared prefer it was going to be.

From unbeatable, to disqualified to… disappointing? The Djokovic that completed 2020 was removed from the identical participant that began it.

So the place is the world No 1 forward of the 2021 season? And can he dominate once more?

The best way that Djokovic rounded out final 12 months does not imply it may be as clean for him because it has been prior to now.

His shock defeat to fortunate loser Lorenzo Sonego in Vienna was considerably surprisingly disregarded with the admission that he had “already carried out what I got here right here for, securing the primary [year-end world No 1 ranking]”.

However he didn’t hit high type once more on the ATP Finals, producing a flat show towards Daniil Medvedev within the group phases after which shedding to Dominic Thiem within the semi-finals. Djokovic hasn’t gained the finals since 2015 and his type in the direction of the top of 2020 might have given the chasing pack hope of catching him on the high of the rankings.

They might additionally see the potential for Djokovic to be distracted by his off-court involvements.

What is going to occur with the Skilled Tennis Gamers Affiliation – fashioned by Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil in September as a breakaway from the ATP Participant Council – stays to be seen, however the world No 1 can’t be too thrilled with the best way issues have gone to date. He and Pospisil had been reportedly requested by gamers to rejoin the ATP Participant Council, however then withdrew from the elections due to their involvement with the PTPA. Now the Player Council board has been set with Djokovic’s main rivals, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, all on it.

Will Djokovic proceed to press forward with the PTPA in 2021 and may it take his thoughts away from what occurs on the court docket?

He could be helped in that regard by the potential of quickly breaking a long-standing file.

He’s simply 9 weeks away from surpassing Federer’s file of 310 weeks as world No 1, needing to remain on the high till March 8 to get to 311. Talking in November, Djokovic, who leads world No 2 Nadal by 2,180 factors, confirmed it is a main purpose of his.

“Objectives are clear – I need to finish the 12 months as No 1 and I need to have as huge a bonus as attainable for the primary three months of 2021, which might permit me the historic No 1, one of many two greatest targets in my profession.”

Additional within the distance there’s additionally the year-end No 1 rating file – which he’s at present tied with Pete Sampras on six – and the possibly career-defining general Grand Slam file.

Djokovic is three behind Nadal and Federer, who’re each on 20, however appears additional behind than he has lately. Maybe it was the expectation that after his sturdy begin in 2020 he would get nearer, or the very fact at 33 his probabilities might now be operating out as a few of his rivals seem like narrowing the hole.

Thiem specifically appears as if he might be a serious menace at majors in 2021. Having taken Djokovic to 5 units within the Australian Open ultimate final 12 months, Thiem then produced some very good tennis to win his maiden main in New York and should effectively have crushed the world No 1 if they’d met within the ultimate. Medvedev additionally appears as if he shall be an everyday contender and dispatched Djokovic with stunning ease on the ATP Finals.

World No 10 Matteo Berrettini has mentioned he expects to see “extra stability” on the high of the lads’s recreation in 2021. “They [Djokovic, Nadal and Federer] nonetheless have a bit of extra within the Grand Slams, however the others are getting nearer,” he instructed La Stampa.

Former world No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero feels the identical. “I nonetheless contemplate them favourites, however not as a lot as earlier than. I feel folks see that gamers like Thiem, [Stefanos] Tsitsipas or [Alexander] Zverev have already got good probabilities of profitable towards them as effectively,” he instructed Tennis Majors.

But when the chasing pack is closing, can Djokovic draw back?

The early a part of the season shall be telling. If he comes up quick on the Australian Open – his most profitable Slam – then alarm bells could be ringing. But when he wins his 18th main in Melbourne then it’s his rivals who could be fearful.