Only a few months ago, Novak Djokovic was a former top-10 player, an old champion, whom many thought will struggle till the end of his playing days and still might not be able to achieve half of what he did during his glorious reign over the tennis world.
‘What happened to him?’ many wondered.
Then, he won Wimbledon and US Open back-to-back and is now back in Top 3. Back on top of the all-time prize money earnings list. Third on the list of most men’s Grand Slam singles titles.
Novak Djokovic’s rise to the top again has been as spectacular as his fall.
On Monday, in the US Open final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, he dispatched a mighty opponent in Juan Martin del Potro – the final obstacle he had to cross to get to Grand Slam No 14, an old record held by Pete Sampras. Djokovic’s now only behind his two more illustrious contemporaries (three Slams short of Rafael Nadal, six short of Roger Federer).
This is the moment, wherein he scaled Mt Sampras:-
This stadium.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2018
This crowd.
This feeling.
Soak in the moment with @DjokerNole...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/gKNYq9cji3
...and this is how Twitter reacted to it:-
Novak Djokovic has caught ‘em all (#Djokémon), and still his haul increases:
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 9, 2018
🐨—🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
🌴—🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
🐬—🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
🎲—🏆🏆
🐂—🏆🏆
🍝—🏆🏆🏆🏆
🐌—🏆
🍓—🏆🏆🏆🏆
🍁—🏆🏆🏆🏆
🎢—🏆
🗽—🏆🏆🏆 #USOpen
🍜—🏆🏆🏆
🎪—🏆🏆🏆🏆
☔️—🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Congrats on another @usopen title @DjokerNole! Your determination and perseverance is inspiring.
— Kevin Anderson (@KAndersonATP) September 10, 2018
Also inspiring - @delpotrojuan, after everything you’ve been through, I know I’m not alone when I say I’m happy to see you back on this stage.
Congratulations to @DjokerNole on a fantastic @usopen Men’s Final! So very proud of all the winners @Bryanbrothers, @JackSock, @CoCoVandey, @ashbar96, @matteksands, @jamie_murray, & all in the Girls, Boys, WC, and WC Quad divisions too. #champions
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 10, 2018
THIS. IS. DJOKERRRRR...
Madness? This is the US Open!@GerardButler 👊👊 @DjokerNole#USOpen pic.twitter.com/RT42AiiFwK
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2018
#Djokovic once again making the case that he is the GOAT. Certainly has the well-rounded career accomplishments and at his best the most difficult player to defeat. No weaknesses, but more important so mentally tough. More majors to come. Count on it.
— Jeremy Eckstein (@JeremyEckstein1) September 9, 2018
All time prize money (dollars)
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 10, 2018
1. Djokovic, 119,1M
2. Federer, 117,5M
3. Nadal, 102,3M
Djokovic back on top on this department.
The ATP rankings as of Monday, September 10:
— Matt Zemek (@mzemek) September 10, 2018
1. Nadal
2. Federer
3. Djokovic
Still crazy -- crazy good, that is -- after alllllllllllllllll these years.#PaulSimonTennisTweets#GoldenEra
Worth reiterating: Djokovic, Nadal and Federer have combined to win 5️⃣0️⃣ of the last 6️⃣0️⃣ Grand Slam singles titles. Shout outs to Wawrinka, Murray, Cilic, Del Potro, Safin and, of course, Gaudio.
— Ed McGrogan (@EdMcGrogan) September 10, 2018
14!! And there was once a time when I thought he might not get to 2! Thanks for the joy @DjokerNole
— Carol🐊 (@Aeromom322Carol) September 9, 2018
Bottom line: championship caliber never leaves a champion. Congrats to Novak Djokovic.
— Tennis Connected (@TennisConnected) September 9, 2018
Truly amazing that people were saying he was done. Now with a real chance to finish the year No. 1.