
In 2010, after Nadal defeated Djokovic in four sets in Queens to complete a career Grand Slam, a debate raged about whether he or Roger Federer, the 16-time major champion, deserved to lead the greatest-player-of-all-time conversation. A year later, the talk has turned like pages in a history book to a discussion of whether Djokovic is in the midst of the all-time greatest season. That is an argument the top-ranked Djokovic ended with the authority of an overhead smash with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1 dethroning of Nadal. With the victory, Djokovic extended his match record for the year to 64-2 and secured his fourth career major and his third of 2011. It was his sixth victory of the year, all in finals, against Nadal, who said: "What you did this year is probably impossible to repeat. So well done." The match lasted 4 hours, 10 minutes, which was no bother to Djokovic. He spent four years honing his patience while he was stuck at No. 3 in the world behind Nadal and Federer, not always in that order. Djokovic's forbearance was an asset on a night that featured one 17-minute game, a few 30-stroke rallies and numerous displays of can-you-top-this shotmaking.
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