You can never rule out someone like Stanimal having another dream hardcourt fortnight or someone like Cilic going off at Wimbledon but there hasn't been this much separation between the form of the world #1 and the rest for ages
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="585286" data-time="1465181501">
<div>
<p>You can never rule out someone like Stanimal having another dream hardcourt fortnight or someone like Cilic going off at Wimbledon but there hasn't been this much separation between the form of the world #1 and the rest for ages</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Could happen - you really just need someone to play three sustained sets of superb tennis and Djok to have an off day.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But in the past two (1.5) seasons Djok has lost only eight times - plus one retirement. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Three times to Roger. Twice to Andy. Once to Stan.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And twice to randoms - Ivo Karlic, Jiri Vesely.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I reckon most likely Roger beats him quickly or Andy or Stan beat him in four. It's a long time since Djok lost a fifth set.</p>
<p>Interesting to read that Djokovic took the longest (8 yrs) of the 8 players to achieve the career grand slam - 2008 Aust Open to 2016 French Open. In comparison, Agassi took 4 yrs, Federer 6 yrs and Nadal 5 yrs.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Andy Murray's record in Grand slam finals is now 2-8. Oh to be born in another decade!</p>
<p>What decade though</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In Open era</p>
<p>70's Bjorg, McEnroe, Connors</p>
<p>80's McEnroe, Lendl, Becker, Edberg</p>
<p>90's Sampras, Agassi</p>
<p>00's Federer, Nadal</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Murray is basically an OK player just like Hewitt, Wilander, Vilas - all multiple slam winners who were born in the same era</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Was Fed born in the wrong decade? Runner up to Nadal at Paris four times in a row and also lost to him at Wimbledon and Melbourne....</p>
<p>I was being a little facetious. But since you asked, perhaps the 2020s? 
</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The 1980s were so much fun for tennis, and had my 2 favourite male players - McEnroe and Edberg. And Chris Lewis...</p>
<p>Murray really needs to win some grand slams in the next couple of years before he gets too old. He's on 2 which is level with Wawrinka which doesn't really set him out as the consistent top 4 player that he has been. I still think his natural game is to retreat behind the baseline and retrieve and that only works when Djokovic is making mistakes and is less likely to work over 5 sets than 3.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>On Laver, tennis was very different at the start of the Open era. Laver missed a lot of Grand Slam events because they weren't automatically the events you entered if there were higher paying tournaments at the same time. For example, Laver won the French in 1969 but never played in it again. And from 63 to 67 he didn't play a single slam (aged 24-29 so in his prime) as he was a pro and the slams were still amateur. But he still won 11 slams ......</p>
22 days later
Djokovic is about to restart his 3rd round match after being saved from defeat by the weather last night. He has to dig himself out of a deep 2 sets to love hole vs American and 28 seed Sam Querrey
<p>Djok serving to stay in the match down two sets to one and five games to six in the fourth. Will have to wait to see the outcome with yet another interruption in play!</p>
It took an off day for djoker and an amazing display by Querrey to end the run. Murray and Fed will be rubbing their hands
