The consensus on Djokovic’s default at the 2020 US Open has been that it was unintentional and unlucky, but the rules are the rules. Obviously, Djokovic felt terrible, and rightly so. However, the bigger question is: “How quickly can he recover in order to continue the pursuit of Nadal and Federer for Grand Slam supremacy?”

The answer is: pretty quickly. The best thing that could have happened to Djokovic is the fact that he begins play at the Rome Masters next week, followed by the French Open the following week. This means that he won’t have any time to let this bitter situation marinate in his head. He is now preparing to be 100% ready to go in and take on the clay court season, where his old nemesis, Rafa Nadal will be waiting.

In hindsight, it’s unfortunate that he is no longer competing in the US Open. He was the clear favorite after capturing both the Australian Open earlier this year and the Cincinnati Masters. At the US Open, without Nadal or Federer, he was poised to capture Grand Slam number 18. That would have put him one behind Nadal and two behind Federer. With the French Open and Australian looming, he may have very well tied Nadal in the next four months. Instead, he sits at 17, and will attempt to dethrone the King of Clay in a couple of weeks. That’s a tough proposition.

It’s not entirely impossible, as Djokovic is clearly the best player on the planet right now. For him and his fans, the US Open default will be a mere blip in the radar for 2020. His focus on reaching greatness will not be shaken. His experience, talent and support system will carry him through. By this time in 2021, it won’t be a shock to see Djokovic holding 18 or 19 Grand Slams and ripping through the US Open draw once again.