5 great sportspersons and their biggest weaknesses

These names are among the greatest of the great in their respective sports; they have decimated opponents of every ability and caliber, but they have their own weak spots.

Despite being the best of all time, these sportsmen have faltered – as is natural. Here, we look into what their weakest spots are:

 

Novak Djokovic: Clay – specifically, the French Open

There isn't an opponent Novak Djokovic has not been able to conquer. The ruling world No. 1 - who has held the title continuously for over three years, has decimated rivals in his path, on every surface imaginable.

He is considered one of the best players in the history of the game. Despite the many plaudits, titles and awards Novak Djokovic has earned, however, it is the Calendar Slam that deludes him – he has been unable not only to win all four slams in a single year, but also all four slams.

The Coupe de Mousquetaires is conspicuous by its absence in the cabinet of the otherwise silverware-laden Serb, who has otherwise looked entirely unassailable, especially last year. The move to a gluten-free diet and bringing on tennis legend Boris Becker as coach appears to have done Djokovic more than a world of good – his game has only got better with each passing year.

But clay seems to bamboozle Novak Djokovic, and although he is not completely devoid of clay titles, he has been unable to finish with top honours on the clay courts of Roland Garros – the home of the French Open.

He hasn’t been without success at the venue, reaching the finals on three separate occasions 2012, 2014 and 2015; losing on the first two occasions to King of Clay Rafael Nadal was likely understandable given the Spaniard is considered the greatest clay court player in the history of the game; his 2015 loss came at the hands of in-form Swiss Stan Wawrinka, and Djokovic still remains without a French Open title.

He’s been in stellar form over the past year, although the Serb has not had an ideal start to the clay court season; he crumbled in a shock first-round loss to 55th-ranked Czech Jiri Vesely, who although talented, has not shown any form of superior prowess on clay.

With the Barcelona ATP Open currently underway in Spain and Nadal the overwhelming favourite to win, Djokovic has chosen to sit the tournament out.

He is still the overwhelming favourite to win the French Open, but Nadal fans and pundits are backing the Spaniard, who all but announced his comeback with a title win in Monte Carlo last week.

Can Djokovic overcome his Roland Garros 'curse’? Only time will tell.