Djokovic in control: World No. 1 into W&S quarters and 20-0 in 2020

Champions intimidate and dominate in many ways—elegance, willpower, clutch play. Technique too can be oppressive, the better player proving stroke by stroke that he is able to swiftly control each rally with far greater precision. And as the lesser player gains the awareness that he is hardly able to compel a miscue from the man across the net, he soon founds his own technique subtly strained. Errors ensue.

In some cases, that recognition comes late, in those moments when a match hangs in balance between the upset and the routine. But today, in a third-round match at the Western & Southern Open between world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and 55th-ranked Tennys Sandgren, awareness of the gap between great and good came quite early—believe it or not, in the opening game of what would prove a 6-2, 6-4 win for Djokovic.

Despite holding a 40-15 lead on his serve in that first game, Sandgren watched his lead vanish in the face of Djokovic’s superb depth and accuracy. Break in hand, Djokovic held at love and in 34 minutes had captured the set, 6-2.

The die was cast, Djokovic methodically twisting Sandgren’s throat in a slow, steady interrogation. The dazzling winners are one thing, placements that generate a fatalistic shrug and can be attributed to unreal brilliance. But it’s the authentic realism of the Djokovic game that has made him an all-time great: an ability to relentlessly elicit errors. It’s an airtight playing style reminiscent of such legends as the late stage Andre Agassi, Mats Wilander, Chris Evert, Tracy Austin and Bjorn Borg. Find a way to make those players miss and you will hold the keys to the kingdom.

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With due punctuality, Djokovic also began the second set with a service break and went up 2-0. Sandgren hung in, holding his quick release serve comfortably. It’s clear that Sandgren has put in an exceptional amount of his time on fitness during this recent period of non-competition. This attribute will serve him well versus most opponents, including a great many ranked higher; for what does a ranking really mean now anyway?

But against a player of Djokovic’s caliber, fitness is not a substitute for skill. Repeatedly, Djokovic gained control of the rally well enough to reveal Sandgren’s herky-jerky qualities, most notably on the forehand, but also on the backhand. Off both sides, the American often hit wide and into the net.

Still, when Djokovic served at 4-3 in the second set, Sandgren reached love-40. Here, Djokovic brought more—a stab volley winner, a deep backhand, a viciously whipped crosscourt forehand evened the game and soon the trouble had been averted, the Serb going up 5-3. Hand it to Sandgren for fighting off five match points and forcing Djokovic to serve it out at 5-4. Which he did, briskly, at love, smacking an inside-out forehand winner to close out the match.

Having labored excessively last night versus No. 72 Ricardas Berankis, Djokovic was far sharper this afternoon.  Nor were there any signs of the neck pain Djokovic suffered yesterday that required treatment on a changeover during the Berankis match. Per usual, today Djokovic was the one inflicting rather than suffering.