There was a nice milestone to Novak Djokovic's Paris Masters triumph on Sunday as it proved to be the world No 1's 600th success on the ATP Tour.
Only Roger Federer (991), Rafael Nadal (706), Leyton Hewitt (611) and David Ferrer (602) have won more than the Serbian and his legacy as one of the greats in the modern game is cemented.
Well, it should be anyway. When he is on form, he is irresistible, as Milos Raonic can attest after being on the receiving end of a 6-2, 6-3 defeat in Paris. Djokovic went through one of the strongest non-major tournaments of the year without dropping a set.
He is a strong and deserved favourite to win a third successive ATP Finals title next week, and it would be a fitting end to a year in which he has regained the world No 1 ranking.
Yet, there still has been a tinge of disappointment for him in 2014 with just one major, Wimbledon, coming his way and just two grand slam title finals reached – great to us mortals, not so to the world’s best player.
If Djokovic’s 2014 was a school report it would be graded B. Very good, but could do better on the big occasions where he has been found wanting.
That has to be the goal in 2015. He is at his peak and should be dominating, particularly with Federer ageing and Nadal’s body struggling.
Only two of the past 11 grand slams titles have come his way, and that does not do him justice.
gcaygill@thenational.ae
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