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The BNP Paribas Masters is down to the semis. But we know that most non-Gallic eyes will be focused on the Bercy semi featuring Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, while Gael Monfils will thrill the home crowd with his Gumby meets Mr. Incredible act. A win by Djokovic further fuels his resurgent fall, and does anyone tread water better than Djokovic, who occupies that no. 3 position on the ATP Tour as if it were built for it?
For a few years now, Djokovic has given the numeral 3 new and enhanced credibility; in fits and starts, he's made the ATP rankings race a three-horse affair, reminding us of the heyday of Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe. He appears to have inspired a host of imitators, he's done the job so well. There's Andy Murray, and Juan Martin del Potro along with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, to all of whom the number 3 now must have special appeal. These days in tennis, the third-highest mountain in tennis is no molehill. And in tennis, you have to climb that one before you set your sights on K-2, and ultimately Everest.
There's a fair amount at stake in Bercy today when Novak meets Rafa, whom he trails in the head-to-head tall by 14-5, each of Djokovic's five wins coming on hard courts, all in Masters 1000 events. But as important as it has seemed these past few months for Djokovic to resist the allure of the Best Supporting Actor role (something into which he slipped in a distressingly comfortable way all the way through the US Open), the other big question looming is how a win or loss might impact a potential Nadal vs. Roger Federer showdown in about a week, in London, in the last ATP event of the year.
Enjoy the tennis, and feel free to discuss it here.
-- Pete