PARIS — Maybe it's because Novak Djokovic was only 19 at the time, young and full of bravado.
Or perhaps it's because he simply was saying aloud what he certainly hoped, but couldn't be absolutely positive, was true.
Then again, there's also the possibility that Djokovic knew he had conjured up more winners that day than his opponent, despite playing with an aching back that led the Serb to quit a few points into the third set after losing the first two.
Whatever the case, it's fascinating to go back and read Djokovic's declaration on the evening of June 7, 2006, after facing a certain guy by the name of Rafael Nadal in the French Open quarterfinals: "He's the best on this surface, but he's not unbeatable.