Novak Djokovic can complete calendar slam - Rod Laver

Omnisports

January 29, 2016 2:37 AM

Achieving the calendar Grand Slam is a rarity, but Novak Djokovic has the tools to complete a clean sweep says tennis great Rod Laver.

___4623427___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___4623427___2016___1___29___19___novakdjokovic-cropped_qx2ei49zt4dm12l3h8vexnq6w_2

Rod Laver knows what it takes to achieve the calendar Grand Slam and has tipped Novak Djokovic to join a cluster of greats to complete the feat in 2016.

A clean sweep of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open has been achieved on just three occasions in the men's singles.

Laver accounted for two of those in 1962 and 1969 - the latter of which marked the only time it has been achieved in the open era.

Djokovic completed three legs in a dominant 2015, but a surprise defeat to Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final denied him both a calendar and career Grand Slam.

The world number one can take the first step to going one better in 2016 by beating Andy Murray in Sunday's Australian Open final, and Laver says the Serbian has the tools to win all four majors.

"I certainly almost saw it last year. Except for the French, Djokovic I would have thought it would have been a perfect situation for him," he said.

"I think it's good for the sport if someone does win a Grand Slam. Someone like Novak is, I think, well on his way to trying to accomplish that.

"Yes we're at the very beginning, but I remember when Roy Emerson and I were competitors together back in our era, and after one of us won the Australian they'd say 'well I guess I'm going for the Grand Slam'.

"Everybody knew about it, and that's the same way I think Novak will be able to accomplish it. He's going to have a lot of competition, maybe Roger [Federer] is going to play a little better the next time they play.

"But you've also got [Milos] Raonic and a lot of players there who are just starting to come into their own, and I think that will show up through this year. But Novak certainly has a chance to pull off a Grand Slam."

Omnisports