9.14.11 - DJOKOVIC REIGNS - The transformation of men's tennis is complete. What was once ROGER FERERER'S domain, thought to never be penetrated, and then became RAFAEL NADAL'S for a brief phase, is now NOVAK'S. He has had a breakthrough year, started off with a easy victory at the Australian Open in January over ANDY MURRAY, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. Then it was his 20th consecutive win of the year over NADAL, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to win the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

The streak continued for 20 more wins, including another 3-set victory in Miami over NADAL.

It took ROGER FEDERER to finally beat NOVAK, after 43 straight wins to open the 2011 season, in the semi-finals of the French Open, 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5). NOVAK would only lose 1 more match this year. He retired against ANDY MURRAY in a warmup to the US Open, which he won yesterday in 4 relatively easy sets over RAFAEL NADAL, 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-1.

It was sweet revenge from last year's final where NOVAK lost to NADAL. It was his 6th consecutive win over NADAL in finals this year. It came after an improbable come from behind victory over ROGER FEDERER in the semi-finals on Saturday, where DJOKOVIC faced 2 match points, after battling back from 2 sets down. TO ROGER FEDERER! It was an unbelievable performance capped by a blistering return off a 108 mph serve for FEDERER for the match. No way NOVAK comes back from that down 40-15 and 5-3 in the final set. No way.

Except that he did the exact same thing to FEDERER the year before at the US Open. And that defines where men's tennis is at this moment. NOVAK DJOKOVIC owns both NADAL and FEDERER. He has risen his game, elevated his mental toughness, and they are his bitches as they say. It is a mental game, over and above the tremendous physicality it now takes to be number 1. But once you achieve mental dominance, it's not likely the vanquished will regain superiority. Game over.

It was an incredible decade, where ROGER FEDERER completely dominated the game. The rest of the field didn't need to show up. ROGER amassed 16 grand slam titles, and countless others. But 2011 saw him go without a single one. That hadn't happened since 2002.

RAFAEL NADAL took the throne from FEDERER, winning 3 of the 4 grand slam crowns in 2010, and gathering 10 majors overall. But that stint at the top may have been short-lived.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC took 3 of the 4 grand slam titles in 2011. He is also young and with a number of years ahead of him. He seems to have FEDERER'S number, and clearly now has NADAL'S. So let's cheer the reign of the new tennis king. He is a character; a clown. And tennis could certainly use that. ROGER was the consumate professional, a machine really. NADAL was a fresh, young face, but a little uncomfortable in the spotlight.

DJOKOVIC is a showman. His game is only matched by his humor, and at-home attitude in the glare of the winner's circle. After beating FEDERER in an incredibly emotional match, MARY JO FERNANDEZ asked him if he had enough energy left to dance for the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was this same crowd that was earlier cheering unforced errors by DJOKOVIC in a bid to resurrect FEDERER'S legend. It was this same crowd that NOVAK had to win back, despite his tremendous physical performance, and his playful antics over the years.

And it was NOVAK who did just that, first imploring the crowd to rout for him during a very critical point in the match. And then, on command, dancing for the rapturous crowd, all now on his side at the end. Only NOVAK took it one step further, conditioning his carousing on center court with a promise from the corwd that they would dance with him. And then they danced.

ROGER and RAFA would, no, never could do that. This is the new king of comedy and tennis, NOVAL DJOKOVIC. Long may he reign.