Streaking Djokovic distances himself from Federer, Nadal

ByGREG GARBER
June 29, 2016, 2:50 PM

— -- WIMBLEDON -- Novak Djokovic will be the first to tell you he still hasn't managed to generate the outpouring of love tennis fans shower on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

But on the court, in the category of Slam streaks, he continues to distance himself from those already legendary players.

On Wednesday, Djokovic won his 30th consecutive match in a Grand Slam -- the third-best major run in the history of men's tennis. Only Don Budge (37) and Rod Laver (31) have done better.

Let the record show that the 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory against Adrian Mannarino was made possible by the 80-million pound, 1,000-ton roof over Centre Court. This was the generous present the All England Club bestowed upon the Frenchman on the occasion of his 28th birthday.

In his on-court interview after the match, Djokovic was asked if, having notched 30 straight major wins, he was surprising himself.

"No, not so much," was his deadly honest reply. "I do have a lot of expectations for myself. I'm very grateful I can play at such a high level. That's definitely a statistic I'm very proud of."

On the second consecutive day of rain at Wimbledon, Djokovic's reign over his peers continues unabated. Since losing to Stan Wawrinka in the 2015 French Open final, he has been very close to perfect.

Think about this: For 387 days in a row now, Djokovic hasn't experienced the agony of a single defeat in a Grand Slam event. From the emerald grass of the All England Club to the hard blue courts of New York and Melbourne to the red clay at Roland Garros and back to Wimbledon, he hasn't had a single misstep.

Djokovic's record in sets is a smoking 90-13 (.874) and he's only been pressed to the precipice on two occasions.

A year ago here, Kevin Anderson stunned Djokovic -- and the entire tennis world -- by winning the first two sets of their fourth-round match in taut tiebreakers. Djokovic rallied to win in five. At this year's Australian Open, Djokovic again lived dangerously in the fourth round, escaping Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-7 (1) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

Despite losing in straight sets, the left-handed Mannarino acquitted himself well. He was serving at 4-5, 30-all in the first frame but missed a pair of backhands to give Djokovic the set. In the third, Djokovic was serving for the match when Mannarino broke him, prompting the capacity crowd to erupt in applause. Mannarino actually earned two more break-point opportunities than Djokovic did but could only convert one of nine. The match ran 2 hours, 5 minutes, a bit long for a second-round match for the world No. 1.

Early in the third set, Djokovic hit the best shot of the match, hooking a running forehand around the net post.

There are far bigger fish (and chips) to fry here than a mere consecutive-match record. Djokovic is intent on winning his fifth consecutive Grand Slam title and becoming the first man since 1969 to take the year's first three majors. That would place him one away from equalling Laver's 1969 single-season Slam.

In the larger context, it would be Djokovic's 13th Grand Slam singles title, placing him one shy of Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal for joint second all time, and only four behind Federer's all-time record of 17.

The pressure, Djokovic explained before the tournament, is always there.

"Pressure is part of what we do," he said. "It's inevitable to face this kind of sensation as a top player, being expected to do well and to go as far as last four at least in the tournament or finals. But the more you get to face this kind of pressures and emotions, the more you get used to them.

"The better you are in coping with it and handling it."

Two down, five to go. Another day in paradise for Novak Djokovic

"Obviously, I'm at the peak of my career at the moment," Djokovic said. "It hopefully can still keep going. I see still lots of room for improvement, things that I can work on. That's something that encourages me. That's something that keeps me grounded in a way, gives me more reason to practice."