What Novak Djokovic's Loss to Sam Querrey Means for US Open 2016

Sam Querrey shocked No. 1 seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic on Saturday with a four-set triumph in the third round of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships. The loss brings an end to the Serbian superstar's hopes of capturing the calendar Grand Slam. 

The match stretched over two days due to weather delays at the All England Club. The delay that came immediately after Querrey grabbed a two-set lead Friday seemed like perfect timing for the top-ranked player in the world, but it wasn't enough to save him.

Djokovic never seemed completely comfortable during the match. He made a lot of uncharacteristic mistakes across both days of action, racking up 31 unforced errors and converting on just three of his 17 break-point opportunities, according to the tournament's official site.

The demands of the ATP schedule essentially mandate even the elite superstars to play often to maintain their gaudy status. It's one of the reasons why Djokovic has risen above his prolific contemporaries, but the resultant fatigue may well have cost him this week.

Djokovic's tremendous success in recent years has created even grander expectations for now. It only adds to the pressure for him to continue staying a step ahead of the likes of Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and others.

It's important for him to draw on his past success to gain a mental edge over whoever he lines up against next, but he has risen his game to a level beyond the all-time greats in Federer and Nadal, whose careers appear to be winding down at long last.

The trick will be for Djokovic to shake off a disappointing end to the event, rediscover a groove on the hard courts in training and gather some momentum for the remainder of the summer. Confidence is key and a big factor in what separates Djokovic from the best of the rest at the moment.

There are two more marquee tournaments on the horizon in the months ahead. The 2016 Summer Olympics tennis event is scheduled to kick off Aug. 6 in Rio de Janeiro, and the Grand Slam season comes to a close starting Aug. 29 at the U.S. Open in New York City. 

Ultimately, this unexpected stumble in London may be the best thing for Djokovic—further insurance he won't get complacent on his perch atop men's tennis and ensuring he continues to work toward becoming arguably the absolute best player ever.