👑No1eGoat👑

“LUCKY SHOT” In the 2011 US Open Semi-Finals, Novak Djokovic completed a remarkable comeback against Roger Federer to book his place in the Championship match. @DjokerNole trailed by two sets in the match, but managed to dig deep and clawed his way back into it against Federer who was in his prime form and looked to regain the Crown at Flushing Meadows where he had won the titles in five consecutive years from 2004 -to- 2008. In the fifth set, the then 24-year-old Serb found himself a break down as his Swiss opponent looked to close in on the victory at 5-3. Fighting to stay in the US Open at 40-15, Djokovic returned Federer’s serve with a powerful forehand cross-court winner and took the next point to bring it to deuce before going on to win the set and ultimately the match👍 During the press conference after the match Roger called that forehand winner from Novak a “lucky” shot. As fate would have it, Novak went on to win his first-ever US Open title defeating none other than the No.2 seed Rafa Nadal in the finals.! Now, fast forward to 2026. The 23-year-old and the No.2 seed Carlos Alcaraz, the youngest No.1 player in Men’s tennis history, lost to the World No.39 Zizou Bergs in the Round of 32 in two straight sets at the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters tournament. After the match, Carlos admitted he didn’t play good tennis. At the same time, he also made it a point to tell the press that Zizou was “lucky” in few moments as some returns, some shots he hit with the frame, it went in.! The Swiss was very senior to Novak, and had already won 16 Majors to Novak’s two Slam titles when they played against each other at 2011 US Open. That comment from Federer about Djokovic, a promising player then with lots of talent, amounted to an INSULT to the young Serbian in fact. Age wise, Zizou Bergs is older to Alcaraz. But then, the Belgian tennis player has won only a single ATP title in his career so far. That way, Bergs is very junior to Alcaraz who has won 7 Slams and 8 Masters trophy by now. What’s the BIG point in first admitting the opponent played well, and in the next sentence saying the winner was lucky.? A player telling “I was UNLUCKY on some points and the opponent was LUCKY on some”, makes a BIG difference. The former is a statement of fact, and the later is One-upmanship bordering on arrogance. That’s why, as a tennis fan, though I like the games played by Roger and Carlos, I can’t take a liking to their personalities born out of ‘false’ ego🥲 On the other hand, Djokovic NEVER talks down on his opponents at any point of time, anywhere👌That’s why JustTennis has so much RESPECT for the legendary Serbian🙏🙏🙏