I have no memory of a player capable of competing in three majors without a warm-up tournament," says Brad Gilbert

Novak Djokovic never ceases to amaze tennis observers. At 38 years old, the Serb has reached the semifinals of every Grand Slam tournament he has played this year. While this consistency is impressive, it is all the more remarkable given that the player has hardly competed in the weeks leading up to the majors.

Indeed, aside from two matches in Brisbane before Melbourne, Djokovic has successively played the Parisian Grand Slam, Wimbledon, and finally the US Open—all on three different surfaces and without any warm-up tournaments.

The only exception was Roland-Garros, where he had played in the preceding weeks (first-round exits in Monte-Carlo and Madrid, followed by a title in Geneva).

This sequence has drawn admiration from Brad Gilbert, former coach of Coco Gauff:

"What's truly astonishing is that he has only played major tournaments. He just competed at Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. I don't recall any other player, male or female, who has played three consecutive major tournaments, and with this level of performance on top of that.

I'm not sure Serena (Williams) has ever done that. And already, the fact that he has never participated in any tournament between two Grand Slams is quite remarkable.