Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

MONTERREY OPEN
ATP CHAMPIONS TOUR
27-29 OCTOBER, 2015
MONTERREY, MEXICO

Novak Djokovic has taken his game to new heights in 2015. With a growing shot making arsenal that continues to drop jaws to the floor, players at this week’s ATP Champions Tour event in Monterrey have used one word to describe his supremacy: ‘unbelievable’.

Following his 6-4, 7-6(5) first-round victory over Thomas Muster on Tuesday, former World No. 4 and 1999 Australian Open finalist Thomas Enqvist weighed in on his favorite to hoist the trophy at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

“It’s difficult to not say Djokovic after he has dominated this year,” said Enqvist. “In the last two tournaments in Asia, he won Beijing without losing more than three games in one set and it went the same way in Shanghai as well. He’s obviously unbelievably confident and playing the best tennis of his life. When he gets on those rolls it’s very difficult to stop.  This is his best season ever. He’s even more complete than he was in 2011. He’s developed his game even more I would say.

“It’s also interesting to see if Federer can keep up the level of tennis he played this summer. Indoors he also plays very well, so if he can play close to how he did in the United States, he can win (at the 02).”

“He’s unbelievable,” added Muster. “It’s just amazing to see what he’s doing.”

Enqvist’s countryman and fellow first-round winner Mats Wilander, who advanced past Henri Leconte, expressed a different viewpoint. While he agrees that Djokovic is playing on a different planet, he suggests that the lack of a Roland Garros crown diminishes an otherwise stellar season.

“He’s having one of the best years of all time,” said Wilander. “How do you beat him? I’m not really sure. I think Roger Federer wants revenge (in London) from what has happened in the last couple of Grand Slam finals. But I don’t know if you could compare Rod Laver to any season if you don’t win the Grand Slam. The competition is different. It’s different surfaces and I think Novak had to have won the French Open and one of the two hard court majors. You need to win on all three surfaces to make it an unbelievable season. Those years are always better than someone who doesn’t win on one of the surfaces. Rafael Nadal won at Wimbledon, the US Open and the French Open (in 2010). That’s unbelievable.

“Consistency wise, Novak is setting himself up to be the greatest player of all time, which is what should worry everyone else. His confidence is so high and his respect level for other players is through the roof. He’s worked so hard and has become one of the strongest players. For him to change his attitude and body language is some of the biggest improvements in tennis. That’s what you have to take your hat off for. It’s not his movement as much as it is his mental change of mindset and body language.”

Leconte, who retired from the second match on Tuesday with a strained hamstring, marveled at the Serb’s level of physical fitness, but also pointed to his mental approach as his most integral asset.

“Of course the World No. 1 Novak is the favorite by far,” Leconte said of his Barclays ATP World Tour Finals chances. “I’ve never seen anybody play so well and be so relaxed. I know my dream is to see Roger winning. It would be great. But I think Novak put the tennis at another world. We used to have one, two, three guys but now Novak is ahead by far. He’s changed the way he’s training and playing. Before, he was very nervous and tense and tight, but now he’s so flexible and relaxed and that’s why all the players want to be like him. The upper body is always straight. That’s the key.

“I think it would have to be one of the best seasons of all time. Could you imagine winning one match and having the Grand Slam?”

In Wednesday’s semi-finals, Pete Sampras battles Enqvist while John McEnroe tangles with Wilander. Sampras owned a 9-2 head-to-head mark against the younger Swede in their careers, while McEnroe edged Wilander 7-6 overall. They met at all four Grand Slams as well as in the 1984 Davis Cup final and in three finals ATP World Tour.

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.