Britain’s Kyle Edmund faces the unenviable task of taking on world No. 1 Novak Djokovic on Wednesday, where he will try to puncture the US Open top seed’s 24-match win streak.
Djokovic has picked up singles titles in Melbourne, Dubai and New York this season, as well as winning the ATP Cup with his native Serbia in Sydney, and is widely tipped to win an 18th Grand Slam title in Flushing Meadows this fortnight.
This is far from Djokovic’s longest win streak. He won 43 straight matches before Roger Federer stopped him in the semi-finals of the French Open in 2011. That was the only Grand Slam title he failed to capture that season.
He has made no secret of his desire to remain undefeated in this pandemic-hit year. On current form, it is distinctly possible – even with ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal already preparing for Roland Garros.
But shocks can often emerge when least expected and Edmund, Britain’s second-highest ranked male player, will hope that’s the case when he trades off with the Serb.
However, Djokovic is guarding against complacancy and believes the extra day’s rest at a Grand Slam gives him a better chance of maintaining his hot streak.
‘Every player has a different way of, I guess, approaching these streaks,’ said Djokovic after his first-round win over Damir Dzumhur.
‘I mean, there are not too many players, both men and women, that have had long streaks of 20 plus matches won in a row. But having had that experience for me couple times before in my career obviously helps because I am aware of it absolutely. I can’t lie.
‘I’m also not overanalysing or I’m not overthinking about it. By virtue of potentially doing that, I would put an additional pressure that I really don’t need at this point. I know pressure is a privilege, pressure is part of what we do. I try to embrace it. I don’t have an issue with pressure because I’m used to it.
‘I have had so many matches in my career that I kind of won when I was down, big Slams and stuff. I know what I need to do and how to behave, how to make myself calm and composed and focused on what really needs to be done.
‘I know it sounds like a phrase, like a cliché, but I really try to focus on every match individually and really force myself to really be in the present moment. What do I need to do in order to win against that guy on a given day? As simple as that sounds, it’s very effective, particularly in these kind of circumstances.
‘Having a Grand Slam with a match every second day actually is favourable I think for me in this particular situation because I get always an extra day in between matches to recover, recharge the batteries – mentally, as well, emotionally as much as physically – then get ready for the next challenge.
‘Do I want to keep the streak going? Of course, I do. Am I thinking about it as a priority number one every single day? No.
‘It’s there, and of course it’s an additional motivation for me. It actually fuels me to play even stronger, play even better, I think bring the right intensity every match.’
Edmund is under no illusions just how tough it will be to down the 33-year-old tennis legend but arrives with little pressure and in the knowledge he has registered a win over Djokovic in Madrid two years ago.
‘It’s the hardest match on tour right now, rankings, form, everything really,’ said Edmund. ‘He’s the guy to beat.
‘It’s going to be a very tough match for many reasons. Also a great test for me to see where I’m at with my game.
‘I’ve had one positive experience playing against him. You always try and use those experiences when you have played someone in the past to see how you felt, what tactics, etc. It is very different circumstances now.
‘It’s the toughest match right now. I’ve really got to go out there and focus on myself really before worrying about him.’
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