Looking back, could 2013 prove to be the defining season for Djokovic with respect to where he ends up on the 'great' ladder - passing even his signature 2011 season - by miles?

What is the shortest route to that destination? How about being able to reach and touch EACH of the Gold standard benchmarks that determine your position on the totem pole?

If you can cover ALL of above bases without the stain that Federer and Graf (Nadal?) carry in common (Nadal and Seles - Djokovic?) with decent variety of surfaces and opponents, you WILL be propelled to the head of the class, maybe, indisputably.

But there's ONE specific booty that can get you there even faster - and CERTAINLY indisputably. It's called the Calendar Freaking Slam. As things stand today, there appears very little between Djokovic and that post.

If he gets there, he will also by accident brush other benchmarks - significantly. He will be @ 9 Slams - at a 'true' 26 years of age, with a Career Slam, third straight year as No. 1 (one more than Nadal and two shy of Federer) and half way from the record of six, about 17 Masters 1000 titles (he is @ 14 now with six more to come this year and the record is 22), realistic shot @ a double career Slam next year, 3rd WTF title.............All that with a healthy mix of surfaces and WITHOUT being had by his arch rival AND after beating Nadal at his den - repeatedly and handily.

You think, that will create enough separation between him and ANYONE, including Federer? You bet!!!!!!!!!! Heck, at this rate and with current landscape, you will be crazy to doubt if he will pass EVEN the most CONSECUTIVE weeks @ No. 1 - with time to spare. He is @ 53 with 237 as record. For total weeks, he is @ 78 with 302 as record.

Via: Soccer Standard de Liège - SV Zulte Waregem - Belgium Jupiler League