Novak Djokovic is king on grass again

HAD it not been for Stan Wawrinka, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams would both be heading to the US Open in search of an elusive calendar year grand slam.

HAD it not been for a stunning performance by Stan Wawrinka in the final of the French Open, world No.1s Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams would both be heading to the US Open in search of an elusive calendar year grand slam.

The loss at Roland Garros means Djokovic will have to wait for another year for that opportunity, although his 7-6 6-7 6-4 6-3 victory against Roger Federer in the final at Wimbledon suggested that would surely come.

It was the third title at the All England club for the Serb, matching the record of his coach Boris Becker.

The win lifted Djokovic to eighth place on the all-time list of grand slam champions with nine, and saw him become the first male player to defend his title at Wimbledon since 2007 when Federer won for the fifth time in succession.

While Djokovic will be the clear favourite to win the US Open, his record at Flushing Meadows is nowhere near as good as it is at Wimbledon or the Australia Open. Despite reaching the semi-finals for the last seven years, his only victory came against Rafael Nadal in 2011.

Originally published as Novak Djokovic is king on grass again