New Delhi: Obviously being crowned as the world's number one player failed to dampen Novak Djokovic's appetite for further success. And as things turned out it was the Wimbledown crown that he was after which was well emphasized by his clinical victory over ten time grand slam winner Rafael Nadal in the men's singles final on Sunday.
Ankle injury or not, Nadal would probably be the first to admit that he was simply outplayed by a man possessed, who seems to have rediscovered himself in what seems to be a rather amazing year for Serbia's favourite son.
In an intense battle between two players who refused to give an inch, Djokovic toppled the Spaniard for the fifth time in 2011 and bettered his win-loss record to 48-1, his only blemish coming against Swiss maestro Roger Federer in the last four stage of the French Open.
So, has Federer, the greatest of them all, winner of sixteen majors, passed on the baton of Rafa's fiercest rival to the man who can do no wrong at the moment, Djokovic?
If one is to go by the turn of events which have unfolded over the last six months, it might well be the case and the Serb might have the upper hand considering that he has had the better of Nadal twice in the finals of major clay court events (Madrid and Rome) prior to the French Open this year.
Although Nadal has a 16-12 advantage in the head to head meetings against Djokovic, nine of those wins have been on the red dirt where he has come up second best twice recently, that too in straight sets.
But beware the wounded warrior, a fully fit Rafa is sure to bounce back and be quite a handful as the year rolls on.
However, a winner of three grand slam titles which includes a couple of Australian Open crowns (2008, 2011), Djokovic seems to have turned the corner and is now a major force to reckon with from being a mere pretender.
Being in the shadow of two of the game's all time greats (Fedex, Rafa) is now a thing of the past for the vivacious Serb and if anything he is probably the future of men's tennis.
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