Can Novak Djokovic finally win the calendar slam in 2024?

Hot off a 27 consecutive match win streak at grand slams, In 2021, Novak Djokovic went on a run that can hardly be imagined by anyone. Djokovic looked like it was all or nothing in the fight of his life. Unfortunately, despite coming so far, and looking the favourite to finally unlock an achievement that evaded him even during one of tennis’s all time greatest seasons (2011)- Djokovic agonisingly fell short. That year was quite the run. The names of the players he took down during that grand slam run?

"Chardy, Bublik, Fritz, Raonic, Zverev, Karatsev, Medvedev, Sandgren, Cuevas, Berankis, Musetti, Berretini, Nadal, Tsitsipas, Draper, Anderson, Kudla ,Garin, Fucsovics, Shapovalov, Berretini (2), Rune, Griekspoor, Nishikori, Brooksby, Berretini (3), Zverev"

No player amongst next gen has actually beaten either one of Nadal or Djokovic and also gone on to win the Australian Open or Roland Garros. This is no surprise, as nobody besides Nadal or Djokovic have managed to win the Australian Open or Roland Garros since 2016. This is a crucial bit of information that will severely boost Djokovic’s chances of at least making it halfway to the calendar grand slam.  This year, Djokovic was finally taken out at Wimbledon, and the US Open, however, for some reason, has been a breeding ground in the past for breakthrough grand slam champions. What is also strange is that Djokovic has the ability to annihilate competition and win the US Open. Just look at this year’s US Open, where Djokovic seemed to face more adversity in the earlier rounds than against Medvedev in the final.

At the Australian Open and Roland Garros, the same situation seems to continually keeps repeating itself at these 2 majors. The only player outside of the “big 4” who managed to beat Nadal or Djokovic at Australian Open or Roland Garros and win a major is Stan Wawrinka. Unfortunately, Stan Wawrinka is 38 years old, and thus there is no expectation for him to replicate those feats.

Novak Djokovic has also never seemed to be able to get the crowd support that other players enjoy- whether it is at Wimbledon, Flushing Meadows or Melbourne Park. In fact, Djokovic was overcome with emotion when he finally won over support from the crowd during the 2021 US Open final. Unfortunately, support came just as he was falling short in what would have been his biggest career achievement: winning the calendar year grand slam.

The loss at the 2021 US Open, remarkably, could serve as extra fuel in the fire for Djokovic, in a career with almost nothing left to prove. His only competition appears to be Spain’s golden child Rafael Nadal, who will be returning to competitive tennis for the first time in eons. The elusive calendar year grand slam is something which has never been achieved in the men’s professional game, bar once, by Rod Laver in 1969.

It is why Roland Garros really is the major which will garner the most excitement for many. Djokovic will never really be the favourite to win the French Open as long as the 13 time winner Rafael Nadal is in the draw. It is this mystique, the idea of Novak winning a major he is not supposed to win, which will be his crowning glory in 2023- if he pulls it off. At Wimbledon, he will likely come in as the favourite. 21 months ago today, Novak Djokovic was approaching being holed-up in refugee detention. A year later, he has won 2 majors, the ATP finals and the dream of a calendar year grand slam is well and truly alive

All in all, do you think Djokovic can defy the odds and win his first ever calendar grand slam in 2024?