2010 saw Nadal dominate and Djokovic struggle. The latter found himself by the end of the year, though, just in time to set up a U.S. Open final with his biggest rival.
Really great to highlight the importance of that 2010 US Open. Often gets overlooked when discussing Djokovic’s shift in 2011 where the diet is mainly talked about. A lot of great/ATG seasons or shifts from players don’t come out of nowhere; the latter half of the previous year often is the building block and “true” breath through. Sinner atm is the most obvious example where his late 2023 has carried into a dominant 2024, but I think it holds for the other upcoming ATGs like Swiatek’s 2021 season winning a 1000, learning a title defence for the first time and so on. Wonder what Djokovic’s 2011 would’ve looked like had he lost that Federer match
Really great to highlight the importance of that 2010 US Open. Often gets overlooked when discussing Djokovic’s shift in 2011 where the diet is mainly talked about. A lot of great/ATG seasons or shifts from players don’t come out of nowhere; the latter half of the previous year often is the building block and “true” breath through. Sinner atm is the most obvious example where his late 2023 has carried into a dominant 2024, but I think it holds for the other upcoming ATGs like Swiatek’s 2021 season winning a 1000, learning a title defence for the first time and so on. Wonder what Djokovic’s 2011 would’ve looked like had he lost that Federer match