Novak Djokovic: One of GQ's Men of The Year

I'm really really proud of Nole! :-) Last year people didn't even think that he's going to beat Roger and Rafa, he just used to be the person they beat in the semis, you know there had to be someone that gets beaten in the semis before the epic and cliche Roger-Rafa finale. But now he's number 1 and I couldn't be prouder! I know I've posted about him being number 1 so many times but this is just something that I'm really proud of. It's been a great year for him!

I just found out that he's one of GQ's Men of The Year! I'm going to share some parts of the article that made me smile. Actually the whole thing is so awesome but let me just choose a few sentences that made me feel like a proud mom~

...Tsonga even went on to win that set, before falling in the fourth. But fall he did. Djokovic scattered points and matches like that behind him all year long. It took another three days, and the final against Rafael Nadal, to elevate Djokovic to the ATP's No. 1 ranking. By then, however, the ATP's calculations were merely catching up to what was already true: Suddenly, amazingly, in 2011, Novak Djokovic became the most powerful force in tennis.

Tennis was not expecting this a year ago. Tennis did not see the need. Tennis already had written the script, and it was a perfectly satisfactory one, if you liked tennis.

They would play each other, Roger and Rafa, age trying to fend off youth with grace and guts. Their rivalry would be beautiful and moving; fans would choose sides, pull for Federer to bravely turn back the clock, tell themselves they were seeing the greatest tennis in history.

Novak Djokovic? Somebody had to lose to Federer or Nadal in the semis. So bring on the rawboned Serb: a nifty returner, a locker-room cutup, a guy one ineffable degree shy of championship material. 

Then the calendar turned over, and so did the sport. Djokovic beat Nadal on grass, on clay, and on hard court, in California, Miami, Madrid, Rome, London, and New York. He beat Federer in Australia, Dubai, California—three consecutive tournaments—lost an epic match to him at the French Open, then beat him again in Flushing. Roger and Rafa seemed as excellent as ever. But Djokovic had crossed over into the world of the '85 Bears, Pedro Martinez, Usain Bolt. It didn't matter how good anyone else was.

The most electrifying thing about watching Djokovic, the quality that pulls in a casual viewer, is that even while playing at the highest level ever attained in his sport, some piece of his mind seems still to be functioning on the normal human plane. He has not turned his back on lesser life-forms, in the manner of a Michael Jordan, and vanished into a rat tunnel of competitive rage. He places another shot improbably—yet certainly—inside the line. He turns away and pumps his fist, not in abandon but with a sort of narrow-eyed, thoughtful glee. It's as if he's as awed as we are by what he can get away with.

2011 is definitely Nole's year! I can't wait for Australian Open next year and see if he's got stronger or not. I hope he's better now, the last time I saw him on TV he retired because of an injury. I'm so excited for Nole and his future matches this 2012! Never going to miss any bit of those amazing matches for sure! x

Read more: Whole article of Novak Djokovic in GQ MEN OF THE YEAR