
It's been some time since last post here at Novak's fan blog, now it's the time to look back on Novak's progress in the last 4 months. Novak's career was in co-relationship with a group of youngsters from Belgrade Serbia who took the world of tennis by surprised to come from a small country with not great tennis tradition.
Other youngsters from that group include WTA tennis players Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic. They were like a group of runners constantly changing leads through the course of the race at the start of their pro tennis careers in chase to World #1 position, as one of them first broke out into the Top 100, other 2 would follow, then into the Top 20, Top 10...
At the time of being, the last Grand Slam of the season, US Open, is underway. Currently Ana Ivanovic is WTA World #1 and Jelena Jankovic WTA World #2 with Ana and Jelena changing places at the top of WTA rankings since Wimbledon, while Novak remained where he was this time last year ranked ATP #3.
Novak didn't follow Ana's and Jelena's progress up the rankings now being so close to #1 position. After a dream start of the season when Novak won first career Grand Slam title, followed by the title at the season's first Masters Series tournament, Novak did not improve in his play and up the rankings.
Having a career of constant progress, as if Novak was 'stagnating' for the past 5 months. We should never forget Novak from his junior and first pro career days, that gutsy player who had only one goal in mind, to overthrow Roger Federer, at the time ATP #1 and by some possible the best player in tennis history.
Last year was awesome for Novak, the beginning of this year promised fulfillment of ultimate tennis dreams, it seemed nothing could stop Novak on the way to ATP #1. Then came a small party time in Los Angeles celebrating the Indian Wells title and a huge shock few days later at Master Series Miami, loss in first match against a player ranked outside of Top #100, as Novak said prior to the start of the match he knew little about his opponent.
Novak slipped in Miami when no one saw it coming, all eyes were on how fast Novak could reach Roger up in the rankings, could it happen even before Roland Gaross, by Wimbledon, US Open or at least by the time of season's finale at Masters Series Cup in Shanghai.
After Miami, Novak had decent results according to ATP #3 reputation, though not spectacular results. Novak featured in Quarterfinals/Semifinals/Finals of Masters Series Tournaments, Semifinal of Roland Gaross, only R64 in Wimbledon, Bronze medal at the Olympics. Novak did not won anything which is a virtue of a champion, he sticked around while Rafael Nadal became new ATP #1.
Success at US Open can still make this season be up to expectations, it would give him a chance to finish the year ahead of Roger Federer at ATP #2 position. Novak has already won $3.5 million in prize money and this will be his most successful season in won prize money, he is currently ranked #2 in ATP Race...
Prior to the beginning of the season, many agreed that Australian Open and Wimbledon titles were reserved for Roger, Roland Gaross for Rafael and US Open for Novak. Novak doesn't seem like a steaming machine entering US Open with months of no won title, but it makes US Open title be that greater challenge.
Today Novak will play in Round 3 against a player ranked outside of Top 100, there were no greater problems for Novak to conduct wins in Round 1 and 2, he is in pretty decent form. Novak can use the opportunity of Roger not playing the perfect tennis from last seasons.
Rafael has had fantastic season behind him, 2 Grand Slams won, including Olympic Gold 10 days ago, and may not have enough fire in him needed to win US Open, as much as Rafael has improved his play on fast surfaces, US Open's hard court suits Novak the best.
We hope for Novak to be in good health (had smaller problem twisting his ankle in round 1) and win the US Open. Ana and Jelena have already tasted the flavour of being World #1, now it's on Novak to match their achievement, if not by the end of this year than maybe in the fist part of the 2009 season, the US Open title is the best place from where to start that quest.






