When it comes to men’s singles, Rod Laver is the only man in the professional era to capture all four Grand Slams in a calendar year and complete the Grand Slam.
Laver completed this feat in 1969.
The Grand Slam has actually been completed on two other occasions. Laver also completed the feat in 1962 and American Don Budge did so in 1938. Both of these men completed the Grand Slam in the amateur era and as such are not officially recognised as having completed the feat.
With Novak Djokovic claiming his fifth Australian open title earlier this year, the possibility remains for the Grand Slam to occur for a second time in the professional era.
Djokovic’s next and possibly biggest test in achieving the Grand Slam will come At Roland Garros during the French Open.
For Djokovic to claim his first French Open and complete his career Grand Slam he will most likely have to get through Rafael Nadal.
Nadal is a nine-time champion at Roland Garros, having owned court Phillipe Chatrier for the last decade. Nadal has only one career defeat at the French Open, coming in 2009 at the hands of Robin Soderling, and the King of clay has an incredible 66 and 1 record at the event. Nadal has also defeated Djokovic in each of the last three French Opens.
If Djokovic was to ever dethrone Nadal at the French Open, 2015 is the year.
Nadal has had one of his least successful starts to a season in the last decade and has already suffered three loses on his much loved clay.
One of these came at the hands of a ruthless Djokovic, dismantling Nadal in Monte Carlo earlier this month.
The fact that Nadal will almost certainly be seeded outside of the top two also leaves open the possibility of another epic semi-final showdown with Djokovic. Their most famous battle at the French Open occurred at this stage in 2013, with Nadal eventually triumphing 9-7 in the fifth set and going on to claim the title.
Other than Nadal, it seems unlikely anyone else can match Djokovic on the French clay.
Another major rival in Andy Murray is not as adept on clay as he is on hard and grass. A 34-year-old Roger Federer’s movement and consistency are more exposed on the red dirt than on any other surface. Clay court specialist David Ferrer does not possess the weaponry to hurt a fully rampant Djokovic.
If Djokovic was to capture his maiden French Open crown, the quest for a third Grand Slam in 2015 would come just few weeks later at Wimbledon.
A healthy Djokovic would be a strong favourite to defend his Wimbledon title he captured against Roger Federer in 2014. Djokovic defeated Federer in a high quality, five set epic.
Andy Murray will pose a bigger threat on the grass of the All England Club, however Djokovic should be able to come out on top despite Murray’s grass court expertise and home crowd support.
Federer, arguably the greatest grass court player of all time, will also pose a threat, but Djokovic’s consistency and movement should however allow him to see off the ageing champ.
Rafael Nadal is always a threat to any player he plays, even if his grass court form of the last three years has been anything but impressive.
Any player with huge game will always pose a threat to Djokovic on the quick grass. That has proven to be the case less often than in years gone by, but it remains in the mind.
If Djokovic was to take out the first three slams of the year, he would be heading into the US Open aiming to achieve the Grand Slam for the first time in 46 years.
It would be hard to see anyone standing in his way.
Djokovic is by far the best hard court player in the world and has maintained this title for the last few years. Djokovic’s unbelievable hard court movement, often sliding into balls that allow him to defend and stay in points when no one else can, eventually break down an opponents’ games.
Amongst Djokovic’s major rivals, Andy Murray looms as the most likely in New York.
The lighting speed of the US courts will also suit Federer’s aggressive game.
Another unlikely rival could come from Kei Nishikori, attempting to repeat his semi-final heroics over Djokovic at last year’s US Open.
Rafael Nadal will be the underdog, despite having twice defeated Djokovic in finals in New York. If Nadal can get back to full fitness and peak form, he will be a test for any opponent.
Once again, the question arises.
Can Novak Djokovic realistically win a Grand Slam in 2015?
Firstly, he must stay injury-free and play his best tennis in the pressure moments.
Djokovic has proven time and time again he can do both of these things. His powers of recovery are unparalleled, while his 2011 season provided some of the most clutch tennis ever seen.
Perhaps the biggest opponent Djokovic will face this in his quest to complete the grand slam in 2015 will be Novak Djokovic himself.
Djokovic will go into virtually every match he plays this year as the heavy favourite. It could be this burden of expectation and pressure that proves his ultimate undoing.
If however, Djokovic can keep his nerve and quieten that voice in his head when it matters most, the Grand Slam and tennis immortality is his for the taking.
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