Novak Djokovic is the Next Golden Boy of Tennis

Going into 2007 not many people could even pronounce the name Novak Djokovic. Only hard sore tennis fans had taken notice of the nineteen year old that started this year with a number sixteen ranking.

People in the know began to say that Novak had the makings of a top 3 player. I don't think they thought they would be right so soon. Djokovic is now the number three player in the world. He may be the only real challenge to Roger Federer on the hard courts.

Djokovic had great results at the Roland Garros and Wimbledon where he made the quarter-finals in both, yet it was on the hard courts at the ATP Masters series in Canada where his biggest breakthrough came. In Montreal he was able to defeat Roddick, Nadal, and Federer in consecutive matches to win the tournament. He was the first player to beat the top 3 players in the world consecutively since Boris Becker accomplished the same feat in 1994 defeating Stich, Sampras, and Ivanisevic at Stockholm.

Djokovic performance at Montreal started to move him into the conversation with Federer and Nadal. The tennis world had taken notice, but you need more than just game to make a splash in the national media. You need to have charisma. Djokovic has displayed some in the past. He often removes his shirt and throws it into the crowd after matches. He is also known for his quirky habit of bouncing the ball up to 25 times before he serves, but it was the U.S. Open quarter-final where Djokovic really endeared himself to tennis fans everywhere.

Djokovic had been rumored to do some very good impressions of famous tennis players. After his U.S. Open quarter-final win he was cajoled into doing two of his impressions by a reporter for the USA network.

Not some one who would shy away, Djokovic proceeded to do two hilarious, spot on impressions of Maria Sharapova and Raphael Nadal. The New York crowd cheered louder after the impressions than during Novak's match. It was in that moment that Novak Djokovic became a star.

Novak Djokovic has the talent on and off the court to be the next tennis superstar. His play and charisma have the potential to bring a lot of fans to the sport of tennis. With Federer and Nadal it was a rivalry of two. It's time to make room for Novak.