When asked how and why he's able to play his best tennis in the absolute most critical moments — those match points for the other guys — he smiles and often shakes his head.
"There really isn't any rational explanation or a word that can describe what you're supposed to do when you're match points down or when you're losing or very close to losing," Djokovic said Tuesday after rallying from down two sets to one to defeat Jo Wilfried-Tsonga. "It's trying to be mentally tough and believing in your shots. So, I don't want to be wise now and say, 'OK, I know how to play when I'm match points down,' because I said, there's no explanation."
Several players on tour can hit the shots that Djokovic unleashed to stave off match point not once, not twice but four times — on the practice court. Or during the middle of matches on relatively inconsequential points.
But how many guys can completely unleash their best forehands, their hardest backhands, and their most punishing overhead rallies when if they're off by just a few inches, they're done, their tournament is over?
Not many.
What the world's No. 1 ranked player did on Tuesday is called greatness.
But he wasn't the only one to show an incredible will and fortitude at Roland Garros. On the same chilly, rain-threatening day, Roger Federer, the man of 16 grand slam titles, found himself down two sets to none against the powerful, spry Juan Del Potro.
Surely the 30-year-old wouldn't have enough energy — wouldn't have the legs — to win three consecutive sets from the 23-year-old, right? Del Potro had clearly outplayed him, taking the first set 6-3 and the second in a tiebreaker.
Time to let the young gun have one, right? (Although a 20-year-old Del Potro did shock Federer in the 2009 U.S. Open final.)
Instead, as we've seen on so many occasions, the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) responded with equal portions of poise and tenacity, giving the match a 180-degree turn and cruising to three straight sets, 6-2, 6-0, 6-3.
Greatness.
It's not a word that should be tossed around. It should be reserved for the very best in sports. And right now, in men's tennis, we are so lucky to be witnessing it. In fact, we've been a witness to it for the past seven or so years — when Rafael Nadal, who is putting together the most dominant French Open in tournament history, joined Federer on the podium of tennis' best winners, just elevated a few feet above the rest of the lot.
And that's the thing. Yes, the Big Three as I'll call them — after all, that's the theme this NBA postseason — are all very good, right now, at tennis. At the X's and O's, if you will.
Federer's serve. Djokovic's killer forehand and drop-shot ability. Nadal's lateral movement and penchant for reaching any ball.
But a lot of guys on tour can do those things. Especially when you talk about the aging Federer, who has been written off by many tennis folks at different junctures during the past two years.
What separates the trio of men who have 32 Grand Slam titles between them is an innate ability to do exactly what Djokovic and Federer did, in different fashions, to stay alive on the clay Tuesday — perform at their highest level when their backs are against the wall.
Think of Jordan's 1998 game-winner. Think of the Cardinals' two, two-out rallies in last year's Fall Classic (a World Series that actually deserved the name.) Think of Eli Manning's last-minute Super Bowl heroics.
Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have come up that big on myriad occasions. When trying to think of a "choke" job by any of them, all that comes to mind is when Federer slapped that easy forehand into the net, giving Nadal the 2008 Wimbledon title in arguably the greatest match ever played.
How else can you explain Federer making an unreal 28 consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals? In other words, winning at least four matches at tennis' biggest tournaments for seven years running.
Until a year and a half ago, this greatness was a trait only shared by Federer and Nadal. There was no other way to explain why the extremely talented and hard-working Djokovic, almost Nadal's age, had just one grand slam to his name.
But then he found it — greatness — and matured in front of our eyes, becoming even more clutch in the biggest moments than we'd ever seen Federer or Nadal. His forehand winner against Federer in the 2010 U.S. Open semifinal, while facing match point, was fearless, the stuff of legends, and laid the groundwork for his three grand slam wins in 2011 followed by this year's epic Australian Open victory over Nadal.
Now, we get to see Federer-Djokovic, again, in Thursday's first French Open semifinal.
We're so lucky.
In so many sports, we, as fans, love the upset. The unpredictability of it. The excitement that comes with the goliath being stoned down. But in tennis, I root for the Big Three to reach the final rounds and eventually face off against each other, because their greatness under pressure, their shotmaking ability, is unmatched. And it makes for incredible theater.
It's the Golden Age of men's tennis. And we should relish it while it lasts.
