When Novak Djokovic left Dubai for the hard-court swing in the United States a month ago, he was on his worst start to a season in eight years. For the first time since 2006, the Serb had reached Indian Wells without a title and he was ranked No 67 back then.
Now, he returns home to Monte Carlo with two glittering Masters trophies after fighting back from a set down to beat Roger Federer in the Indian Wells final two weeks ago and, on Sunday, playing near-flawless tennis to rout world No 1 Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-3 for his fourth Miami crown.
“I couldn’t ask for a better March of this season,” Djokovic said after the win.
“I worked hard, and it’s paying dividends. Obviously, it’s not easy when you’re playing a top rival at the finals of any tournament, but if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. That’s the biggest challenge you can have.”
The disappointing start, by his high standards, must have also spurred Djokovic on and now he is only the second man – after Federer (2005 and 2006) – to win the Indian Wells-Miami double twice. The first time was in 2011, a year during which he won three majors and reached the world No 1 ranking for the first time.
After his performance against Nadal on Sunday, enthusiasts are predicting an encore, but it might all depend on one pertinent fact: both of Djokovic’s titles in 2014 have come without his new coach Boris Becker in attendance.
Marian Vajda, the man who has overseen all six of Djokovic’s grand slam conquests, was in his corner at Indian Wells and had to stay back for Miami after Becker decided to miss the tournament because of a hip surgery.
With Vajda, the world No 2 has won four straight Masters titles and 34 matches on the trot since the 2013 US Open. With Becker in his corner, Djokovic’s record is 7-2, with defeats in the Australian Open quarter-final – his earliest exit from a grand slam since the 2010 French Open – and the Dubai semis.
“He’s not just a coach to me; he’s truly a friend,” Djokovic said of Vajda.
“He knows me very well. He knows me, of course, better than Boris, but Boris just started working with us and we have a great communication. The benefits and the effects of our incorporation, Boris and mine, hopefully we will see in the rest of the season. If he is able, he’s going to be in Monte Carlo. Everything stays the same, unless his health doesn’t allow him.”
So the jury on this star partnership will have to wait, but numbers do not lie and it is hard to argue against success.
arizvi@thenational.ae
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