If there’s any tennis player in this era who can be tagged an underachiever, Novak Djokovic is never one in danger of such in any aspect of his day job.
Even while competing in the era of the most dominant tennis players on any one surface, Rafa Nadal who has won the French title 12 times, the Serb’s numbers on the red dirt are too often overshadowed and underappreciated.
Even Roger Federer can certainly empathise as Rafael Nadal had made the clay-court event his.
Djokovic, however, on Thursday drew level with his great Swiss rival on 70 match-wins at Roland-Garros becoming the second player to win 70 or more at all four Grand Slams.
His 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Lithuanian former junior world No.1, Ricardas Berankis, left him second only to Nadal’s 95 victories, and counting, at Roland-Garros in the Open Era.
Even the event’s second-most prolific champion, Bjorn Borg, never notched as many.
“Of course, winning that many matches, on each Slam, is a great achievement, and of course it makes me proud, makes me happy,” Djokovic says.
“I always aim to play my best tennis in Grand Slams. I think Federer, Nadal, the biggest players in the last 10, 15 years, aim to always play their best in Slams.
“Over the two weeks, it takes a lot of energy and effort to invest into winning a Grand Slam. Obviously, those records are great. I mean, they don’t… determine my day in terms of how I feel on the court, if I broke the record for most matches won on slam or not, but of course, it’s nice to hear.
“It’s kind of a confirmation for me that I have been able to play my best tennis throughout my career on the biggest tournaments.”
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Berankis despite having his coach to be Djokovic’s good friend and former Davis Cup team-mate, Janko Tipsarevic, knew what he was up against and he would have had to be at his fleet finest to get past the dominant Serb.
Berankis became Djokovic’s second victim in as many rounds to salvage only five games, the same number he managed in their only previous Grand Slam meeting at the 2013 US Open.
Djokovic also dominated on serve, notching a 95 per cent success rate on first-serve points – comfortably wrapped up in just 83 minutes on his 10th ace.
The world No.1 now stands to pull clear of Federer when he meets Colombian lucky loser Daniel Elahi Galan next.
“It’s always dangerous facing opponents you never face before,” Djokovic says. “On the big stadium they can really relax and play their best tennis of their lives or it can go a different way. I have to be alert and prepare myself well.”
While grateful to notch 70 wins, only one number matters to the world No.1 this fortnight – Coupe des Mousquetaires No.2.
Wow. Congratulations Novak Djokovic. He woud likely win the French Open.