Djokovic is quite respectable — and No. 1

Mark Twain told us politicians, old buildings and prostitutes become respectable with age. Dare we add veteran tennis players?

A better term might be beloved. Like Roger and Rafa and maybe Andy Murray were. And Djokovic now seems to be. Yes, those were chants of “Novak,  Novak” tumbling onto the clay court. Djokovic’s right knee was aching. His previous match didn’t finish until 3:06 a.m. Sunday. Monday afternoon he was a set and a breakdown against the 25-year-old Argentine, Francesco Cerundolo. 

But you don’t become No. 1 in the world because you are timid. Never mind the forehands and backhands. This became a matter of heart, something of which the Serb has plenty of. And in 4 hours 39 minutes, Djokovic was a 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 winner. Just barely, but when you’re great, as we can describe Djokovic, just barely is enough.

“I maybe was two or three points away from losing this match,” he said. 

But he didn’t lose. Even though twice during the second set the medical staff came out to massage the sore knee.  

In basketball, football, and baseball those two or three points seem more like 10 points or 200 when the edge belongs to a champion. He or she finds a way as did the Warriors in their glory years.   

Who knows how much more Novak has in him? Time is the ultimate opponent. You keep getting older, and the people think you are done. If he couldn’t get out of the first round of the French Open tournament he couldn’t win he has no chance at the other Slams.

Serena Williams departed. So did Federer. Djokovic battles on, gaining popularity as he works to pick up victories. 

Tennis and golf are sports without a home team. Both need names, recognizable figures, and stars large enough and bright enough to make even the non-fan turn on the TV set.

Djokovic has gone through a great deal and along the way put tennis through a great deal — refusing to be vaccinated, bounced from Australia — still it was out of the country, but he never was out of the news.

With the win Monday, Djokovic broke a tie with Federer for the most match wins at a major, now 370 — not exactly a surprise when you have the most Slams.

He is supposed to meet No. 7 seed Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Ruud, who eliminated No. 12 Taylor Fritz of the U.S. and southern California, in four sets Monday, lost to Djokovic in the French Open final last year and to Rafael Nadal in the 2022 title match.

“How did I find a way to win again?” 

Djokovic asked nobody in particular — but in effect the entire tennis world.

“I don’t know.”

Truth be told, he knows. We know. When he steps on a court he’s there for one purpose. To stay where he resides, at the top. Whether he’s popular or not, and without question at last he is.