It Begins: Novak Djokovic's Incredible Opportunity in Oz

It didn’t take long for the Australian Open—the so-called Happy Slam—to go from carnival to carnage. Ana Ivanovic, the No. 5 seed in the women’s draw, was eliminated before most players had even started their tournament. And pretty much every day after that, someone else of significance was inspiring an “UPSET ALERT” post on Twitter. Gael Monfils’ act was cancelled by Jerzy Janowicz, while Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal barely got past the third day—so it wasn’t a great shock to the system when Roger Federer lost two days later. Petra Kvitova didn’t reach the second week, and even though Rafael Nadal did, his loss still felt like an early exit.

For all the chalk that advanced at the Aussie Open—seven of the top eight men’s seeds reached the quarterfinals—there is still a feeling of uncertainty to me. Even Serena Williams, the top women’s seed, has looked out of sorts in reaching the semifinals. (The cure, apparently? Having her sister lose before she takes the court.) But even though Tomas Berdych hasn’t dropped a set, Andy Murray looks reinvigorated, and Stan Wawrinka isn’t relinquishing his title without a fight, I’ve never had a doubt about Novak Djokovic’s place in the sport, right now and leading into the season’s first Grand Slam event.

Last year was one of change on the men’s side; some might even call it upheaval. The ruling class was tested like never before, but by the end of it all, it was still Djokovic’s year. Nadal was affected by injury, Wawrinka and Marin Cilic—the two surprise major champions—remained inconsistent, Murray’s form floundered, and Federer, despite winning the most matches on tour, couldn’t win the matches that mattered most. The one that mattered most of all, the Wimbledon final, was won by Djokovic. It was huge relief for the Serb, and a result that freed him from a paralyzing grip of doubt.

“I needed this win a lot,” admitted Djokovic, who had lost his previous three Grand Slam finals, after beating Federer in five sets. “I'm going to try to use it in the best possible way and for my confidence to grow for the rest of my season and the rest of my career.”

Djokovic will put that to the test starting in his semifinal match with Wawrinka. It’s the third year in a row they’ll face off in Melbourne, and if that means this meeting will be charmed, well, we might end up seeing the greatest tennis match ever played. Their first two encounters were five-set classics, each the best match of their respective tournament. It’s hard to argue with any prediction that calls for five more sets.

But Djokovic hasn’t lost one set thus far in Oz—in fact, his serve has been broken just once. Wawrinka is having another great run Down Under, but Djokovic is playing with a level of confidence rivaled perhaps only by Berdych. He made Milos Raonic look toothless in the quarterfinals, draining the Canadian’s power with returns timed as accurately as an atomic clock, along with a relentless baseline barrage.

“From the first game till the last I played the way I wanted,” said Djokovic after his 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-2 win. “Knowing that I have raised the level of performance tonight, and probably playing the best match of the tournament so far is affecting my confidence in a positive way.”

The clear-cut No. 1 has an opportunity to widen the gap between himself and the field over the next few days. But from a macro level, Djokovic has a chance to enter an entirely new plane of tennis excellence in 2015. He has seven major titles to his name; in his prime and just 27, this season should yield more. Think big: Djokovic can near double digits in the major count, and is even good enough to win the Grand Slam if things go his way—the calendar-year Slam, not just the career Slam.

There is still a ways for him to go, even with the Australian Open nearing its conclusion. You know that Rafa will be waiting for him at Roland Garros, and the summertime grind is difficult on any player, including Djokovic, a physical specimen but not one immune to the effects of exertion. I believe I know what Djokovic is capable of, but it’s time for him to prove it—again, and again, and again.