2020 Season Report Card For Djokovic, Nadal, Thiem +
Tennis has stopped for the second time in 2020. After enduring pandemic shutdowns, the cancellation of Wimbledon, re-scheduling of the French Open and a second (and third) knee surgery for the games biggest star - the 2020 season has come to a close.
While it was a season like none of us can remember, there were certainly things that remained the same. Rafa Nadal won the French Open - perhaps the most perpetually reoccurring statement about any sporting event, ever. Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open for an 8th time and finished the season as the world #1 for a record tying 6th time.
There were, however, norm-shifting events that took place. Most notably in Dominic Thiem winning his 1st major and (maybe) finally ushering in the era of the Next-Gen.
I look back at the seasons of the 3 best players of 2020 and grade them based on what they would have hoped for.
Novak Djokovic (ATP #1)
When Novak Djokovic entered the 2020 season he had won 4 of the previous 6 Majors, and was enjoying one of the all-time greatest returns to form following his slump and injury of 2017-18.
His goals were explicitly set on taking all records he possibly could from Federer and Nadal. 2020 was going to present 4 more Major Tournaments and a lot more weeks of #1 ranking as opportunities to help him close the gap.
Nole started off the season by wining the inaugural ATP Cup, beating Rafa Nadal in epic fashion. He then won his 8th Australian Open coming back to beat Dominic Thiem in the final. Djokovic then won Dubai, looking unstoppable.
Then Covid Hit.
Djokovic launched the Adria Tour which was an initiative to bring live tennis to Adriatic region (which had very low Covid cases at the time) and the prize money would all go to local charities. This fantastic idea ended up backfiring on Djokovic when each of the star players ended up getting Covid, after no social distancing took place, and the tour was called off.
Djokovic was criticized heavily for his apparent lack of diligence in producing event, even though not all the responsibility was on him.
After winning the Western & Southern Open and Rafa not showing up to the US Open, Djokovic was the clear favourite to win his 18th major.
Someone had different plans:
Djokovic ended up defaulting out of the US Open after accidentally striking a line judge with a ball carelessly hit in anger.
One of the craziest things to ever happen in tennis.
Seemingly unfazed, Djokovic won the first tournament on clay in Rome, the lead up to the re-scheduled French Open.
Djokovic was a serious threat to beat Nadal as they met in the final, with the slow, heavy conditions seemingly favouring the Serb. But the King of Clay found an untouchable level and blew Djokovic off the court in the final.
Djokovic had no answers that day. He wouldn’t find a high level for the rest of the season, either, losing 3 of his next 7 matches.
BUT he would finish the season as the world #1 for a 6th time.
Djokovic is happy with his Year End #1 and his AO title, but I am sure that he would love to have a second chance at not hitting a lines person and playing Nadal in the RG final.
Record: 41-5, Titles: 4.
Grade: B+
Rafa Nadal (ATP #2)
The Spanish Bull came into the 2020 season after winning his 19th Major at the 2019 US Open. Pulling within 1 Major of Roger Federer’s record 20 titles, 2020 was the season that was supposed to present 4 more opportunities for Rafa to pull even or ahead.
We all know what happened with Covid but Rafa did what Rafa does best: winning Roland Garros… for a 13th time. With the bonus of absolutely destroying Djokovic in the final. #bageltime
The start of the season was not so smooth as Rafa lost to Goffin and Djokovic (in the final) at the first ever ATP Cup.
Rafa then had a tough lost to Dominic Thiem in the QF of the AO where he lost 3 tiebreak sets. Nadal followed up that disappointment with a solid win in Acapulco on hard court right before the Covid shutdown.
During the lockdown, Rafa admitted he didn’t play much tennis (maybe more golf?) and opted to not travel to America for the US Open (as I suggested he shouldn’t…Rafa clearly watches The Slice).
His focus was on the upcoming French Open, and even with a surprising loss to Diego Schwartzman in the lead up Masters 1000 in Madrid, Rafa found his form in his favourite tournament.
Battling heavy, slower conditions, Rafa had a favourable draw (not playing anyone in the top 70 (!!!) until the SFs) and was able to adjust his game to optimized levels on the September clay of Roland Garros. The huge question was: could Nadal overcome a very hungry and in form Novak Djokovic in the final, even though the conditions seemed to favour Novak.
He answered that question with one of the most dominant victories ever in a Grand Slam final, especially in one between two of the greatest players of all time. Extracting revenge on Novak for the beating Djoker gave him in the 2019 AO final.
His last 2 tournaments on indoor hardcourts resulted in 3 losses to the brightest stars of the next generation: Zverev in the Paris SF, Thiem in the RR of the ATP Finals, and Medvedev in the semi-finals of the same tournament.
Even thought there was slightly disappointing ending to the season, Rafa has to be happy with another French Open title and tying Federer’s record of 20 Slams - especially at 34 years old. As the great man said himself, he was most happy with his ability to adjust, adapt, and find his best tennis at the French.
Record: 27-7, Titles: 2.
Grade: A-
Dominic Thiem (ATP #3)
Dominic Thiem has long been seen as one of the heirs to the throne of the Big 3… but that title seemed to be weighing on him as he searched for his first Major win after losing in 2 French Open finals to King Rafa.
After an up and down 2019 season where he won Indian Wells on hard court (signalling that he is no longer a clay court specialist), making the final of RG taking out an in-form Novak Djokovic in the SF, but also going out in R1 at Wimbledon and US Open, and R2 at the AO, Thiem came into 2020 thirsting for a break through.
His first opportunity was the Australian Open final, where he found himself with a 2 set to 1 lead with Djokovic not playing his best. Having already beaten Nadal in the SF, Thiem was poised to do one of the hardest things in sport - beating 2 of the Big 3 to win a Grand Slam.
As we know, Thiem wasn’t able to see the victory through. Thiem went 0-3 in his first 3 Slam finals, and the latest defeat weighed on him heavily. When would his breakthrough come?
The Slice’s reaction to Dominic Thiem losing the 2020 AO
Thiem left the AO to lose in poor form in at the Rio ATP 500. Even when the tour resumed for the “Cincinatti” 1000 in New York, Thiem lost badly to Krajinovic.
Going into the US Open, with Nadal’s absence, Thiem was ranked #2, his highest ever seed at a Major. Would the pressure matter?
After the 4th round where Novak Djokovic unbelievably was defaulted out of the tournament, the pressure went even more on to Thiem (similar to Federer at 2009 RG when Nadal lost). Thiem kept up his great form at the tournament so far, and cruised through tough opponents in Alex De Minaur and Daniil Medvedev to reach the final, to play Zverev…
…where he came out flat and lost the first 2 sets.
Was he going to lose in a Slam final again, but this time to someone that was less expected to win than him?
Not to be, we all saw it, Thiem just REFUSED to lose and mounted an epic comeback to track down Zverev and will himself over the finish line, battling leg cramps and unleashing massive forehand winners.
He’d done it. And on a hard court! Thiem’s time officially arrived at the 2020 US Open, where he left a champion.
He basically ran out of steam in the following French Open, losing in the QF to a very in-form Schwartzman.
Beating Djokovic and Nadal back to back in amazing fashion at the ATP Finals was MASSIVE statement about the level that Thiem can bring to any matchup.
At the end of the season, looking back Thiem will be happy as he accomplished his biggest goal: becoming a Grand Slam Champion. If he didn’t win that match (final of USO) it would have been a very disappointing season for him.
But he did win, and that’s all that matters!
Record: 25-9, Titles: 1.
Grade: A
Daniil Medvedev (Atp #4)
A VERY mediocre season for Daniil after a break out 2019 season, was SAVED by his last 2 tournaments. Winning the Paris Masters beating Nadal and Zverev, and then winning the ATP Finals beating Djokovic(#1), Nadal(#2), and Thiem(#3) back to back to back was an epic way to end 2020. It also reminded us that on a fast hard court, he can beat anyone on planet earth.
Record: 28-10, Titles: 2
Grade: B-
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Atp #6)
2020 was an overall disappointing season for Stefanos, winning only 1 ATP250 title and having a lot of tough loses against top players.
His best result was the SF at the French Open where he almost came back from 2 sets down against Novak Djokovic before sustaining an apparent leg injury in the 5th set. This reminded us of his potential and also of what he probably left on the table in 2020. Reminder: he is still only 22.
Record: 29-14, Titles: 1
Grade: C+
Alexander Zverev (Atp #7)
2020 was a rough year for Zverev, highlighted by the domestic abuse allegations from his ex-girlfriend (which he awkwardly denied) and the news of his pending fatherhood from another ex-girlfriend.
Sasha started 2020 with 3 straight loses at the ATP Cup, and that set up the year he was about to have.
They only positives were his first major final at the US Open, where he gave up a 2 set lead to lose to Thiem. The others were his back to back victories at the ATP250 events in Cologne, Germany.
Reminder: he is still only 23.
Record: 28-11, Titles: 2.
Grade: D
Let us know what mark you would give down below.
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by Stephen Boughton, Chief fire starter @theslicetennis