For the second time in his career, Novak Djokovic ends a season with three Grand Slam titles. Unlike in 2011, though, he played in all four major finals this year.
His riveting 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Roger Federer in the US Open final Sunday night left so little between his three titles and a perfect Grand Slam season — a loss to Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final.
looking ahead to 2016, it’s clear that both Djokovic and Williams could resume that Grand Slam quest, with not too many players capable of standing in the way.
“He’s perfected his game on the hard courts, no doubt about it,” Federer said. “He was always a great clay-court player, and because he moves as well as he does, he’s solid and consistent now on the grass.”
Add up all of Djokovic’s major trophies and he’s up to 10, tied for seventh in history with Bill Tilden, and trailing only Federer (17), Pete Sampras (14), Rafael Nadal (14), Roy Emerson (12), Bjorn Borg (11) and Rod laver (11).
The 28-year-old Serb has been gaining on Federer, thanks in part to beating the 34-year-old Swiss star in three of the past six major finals.
Here is what else we learned at the 2015 US Open:
Thanks in part to his recently developed “SABR” — “Sneak Attack by Roger” — half-volley return, a healthy back, and a larger racket head that he is fully comfortable with, Federer has played superbly of late. He is 17-2 over his last 19 matches, the only losses coming against Djokovic in the Wimbledon and US Open finals.
Nadal lost in the third round, Andy Murray in the fourth, and while most folks still consider them to be part of the “Big Four,” along with No. 1 Djokovic and No. 2 Federer, there will be those who wonder when either will again be lifting a Grand Slam trophy. For Nadal, especially, there are serious questions about whether the pounding his style of play puts on his body has taken an irreversible toll. This was the first season since 2004 that he did not win a major title.
Williams' loss to 43rd-ranked Roberta Vinci in the semifinals was as surprising a result as tennis has had in any recent times. Vinci played superbly, but Williams, looked as if the tension and attention brought on by her Grand Slam attempt finally got to her. She turns 34 this month, and opponents such as Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitova and Caroline Wozniacki must be hoping the American will slow down at some point.