Novak Djokovic Heads into ATP World Tour Finals as the Best of the Big Four

Novak Djokovic heads into the ATP World Tour Finals as the clear favorite. He's also distinguishing himself as the best of the Big Four. 

Djokovic solidified his No. 1 ranking with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-3 win over Milos Raonic at the Paris Masters. It was his 600th career victory.

Going into the year-end championships, which get underway in London Nov. 9, Djokovic has no glaring weakness in his game. The complete package, Djokovic looks as calm and relaxed as he does focused and determined. At a time of the year when guys are nursing injuries and battling fatigue, Djokovic appears fresh and fit. 

His career has been so enmeshed with other members of the Big Four, that his unique talents sometimes get lost in the conversation. His court coverage is ridiculous. He traverses the baseline, altering from defense to offense, sliding into shots like he's Elastic Man. He can redirect shots without warning, leaving opponents wrong-footed. 

Winner of seven Grand Slams, Djokovic has outpaced Andy Murray. Of course Roger Federer leads everyone with 17 Grand Slam titles. Rafael Nadal has a lopsided head-to-head advantage against Federer. 

Djokovic has never enjoyed prolonged dominance like Federer. He has yet to own a Slam in the fashion that Nadal does the French Open or in the way Federer reins at Wimbledon.

However, right now, Djokovic is the closest thing to a sure thing on tour.

Nadal is out with appendicitis. Federer, although gaining on Djokovic in points, is fighting Father Time. Murray is surging, but Djokovic dismissed him in straight sets in Paris.

Djokovic's win over Raonic was another example of how the Serb finds answers to players who puzzle others. Raonic hit 21 aces in his 7-6 (5), 7-5 win over Federer in the semifinals. Federer struggled to make a dent in Raonic's service game. The Canadian loss just 15 points on serve. 

Against Djokovic, Raonic had only nine aces. Instead of allowing Raonic to blow him off the court, Djokovic ceded nothing. He lunged for every serve and overhead smash Raonic threw at him. Sometimes, Raonic was too good. However, being under constant pressure to play an extra shot took Raonic out of his game.

After the match, Raonic told reporters that no matter what he served up, Djokovic had an answer. "He just made life difficult for me today...Every time he put his racket on the ball, he was making me play a deep ball. And the short one, even if he gave me a short one and I would attack, he would be there."

During one rally, Raonic hit a shot that barely cleared the net. With Djokovic back at the baseline, it looked like a winner. That was until Djokovic dashed toward the net to dig it out. Raonic was there, at the net, to hit what also looked like a winner until Djokovic popped it back beyond Raonic's reach.  

Stunned by Djokovic's agility, tennis commentator Robbie Koenig said that against 99 other players in the Top 100, Raonic's shot would have been good enough.  "But of course Djokovic is not in that category."

Right now, Djokovic is not just playing better than everyone else. He simply is better than everyone else. With holding onto his No. 1 ranking as added incentive, Djokovic will be tough to top in London. 

As former Tennis pro and commentator Brad Gilbert told the ATPWorldTour.com, “He’s remarkably consistent on every surface and I think he’s taken movement and flexibility to a whole new level."

He's on that level, alone. Djokovic may be one of the Big Four, but right now he's in a zone of his own.