Novak Djokovic has an excellent chance to achieve what only three men* and six women** in tennis have ever accomplished: the open era career Grand Slam. The path to the career Grand Slam is littered with great and famous names who never quite got there: Sampras, Borg, McEnroe, Lendl, Monica Seles, Venus Williams, Kim Clijsters, to name a few. (Billie Jean King won all four, but two before the open era.) Federer himself is a little lucky to have achieved it. In winning 9 of the last 10 French Opens, Rafa Nadal had almost thoroughly blocked entry clay court crown. Federer took the sole opening Nadal allowed to complete the quad.
Djokovic, at 28, looks as dominant right now as Federer did in his prime — and on all surfaces. Djokovic personally sent Nadal packing this year and then, in what’s becoming customary, let Andy Murray hang around before beating him soundly. Djokovic will join elite company with a career slam at Roland Garros. And he looks poised to remain at the top for the foreseeable future.
* Andre Agassi, Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer
** Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graff, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams
