Davis Cup Crossroads

Djokovics excellent season in 2011 has often been linked with his performance in the 2010 Davis Cup finals...

Move forward a year to the 2011 US Open final were Djokovic beat Nadal for the 6th time in a final. Just a couple of weeks ago the story was that Nadal was finished and we were witnessing the emergence of the next dominant player.

Less than a week later when both players fulfilled their duty to play in the Davis Cup for their country the plot took an unexpected twist. Both played at home in packed stadiums full of adoring fans. Djokovic pulled out of his match (with Del Potro) in tears when trailing by a set and 3-0. Nadal who supposedly was finished both physically and mentally put on a stunning performance beating Gasquet and Tsonga easily in straight sets.

How will their respective Davis Cup performance and experience affect their confidence and future play? A year on is it another Davis Cup crossroads?

I don't think the DC was what triggered Djoko's successful year. Beating Federer at the USO wa smore impressive than beating the French on homesoil.

Maturity and better fitness is really what gave Djokovic the extra confidence against teh top players. Especially versus Nadal as he said long ago that he did not need to play particularly well to beat Nadal.

lol. Beating Gasquet and Tsonga on clay is akin to a Hare beating a Tortoise to a boatload of carrot. And Djokoluck was trailing to a guy serving 80% first serves on HC, pretty standard after that!

Djoko has recently said that the USO 2010 was where it really clicked for him.

barrystar wrote:Djoko has recently said that the USO 2010 was where it really clicked for him.

Yes, on one side beating Federer, and more importantly, Djoko realised then he had no choice to get fitter to make it a more even contest if he wanted to win slams. More than anybody as he says on the other thread, he simply needed to get fitter to beat Nadal. No different to what Murray is saying.