'Would Be A Mistake': Djokovic Warned Over Calendar Slam Claims By Becker
ATP
Novak Djokovic is halfway to the calendar grand slam but his former coach Boris Becker thinks he shouldn't play into the narrative.
Novak Djokovic came incredibly close to the calendar grand slam in 2021 when he made his way almost all the way to the US Open. He only needed to beat Daniil Medvedev to create incredible history but he failed.
He proved human, crumbling under tremendous pressure. In fairness, Medvedev played a superb match but Djokovic didn't play to his level. The narrative during all of that event was the calendar grand slam and he was asked about it all the time forcing him to plead with reporters to not ask him anymore about it.
The pressure was palpable and it didn't help. If he wins Wimbledon, as many expect him to, Djokovic will have a chance to prove he learned from that previous experience. The narratives already started.
Ivanisevic was asked about it at Roland Garros as was Djokovic himself. The Serbian played it down immediately which is what his former coach Boris Becker underlined in his exclusive talk with Eurosport following Roland Garros.
It would be a mistake, from his point of view, to make it obvious now. Because you know what happened last time: He won three, was in the final and then couldn't stand the nervous strain. That's why he should really only concentrate on Wimbledon.
What Becker is saying is right as nobody talked about anything but the calendar grand slam the last time around. While not essential to his legacy, winning a calendar grand slam is something Djokovic wants to do. He plays to break records and win grand slams, he's admitted it more than enough times.
But the man wants to break records. I don't know which one he can still break, the calendar Grand Slam in one year, that's maybe the only one still outstanding. 100 per cent, he's thinking, but I hope he won't talk about it and just go out on the grass, try to win Wimbledon now, and then the US Open will come at some point.
