As if to remind us all that he still intends to be included in the equation with all the recent focus on Nadal and Federer, Novak Djokovic made a statement in upending a fairly worn-out Rafa Nadal in Cincinnati tonight. This will delay Nadal's ascension to the top ranking a couple of weeks. It also re-establishes Djokovic as a threat in the upcoming U.S. Open. He is clearly at his best on hard court, winning in Melbourne and Indian Wells this year and advancing to the finals at Flushing Meadow last September. And should he prevail at the Open next month, he would own two of the 2008 majors, as would Nadal. Would that drop Federer to #3? It certainly would make the Olympics gold medal and the Masters Cup title more important in sorting out these three contenders.
