Novak Djokovic he started the season in the best possible way, winning the tenth Australian Open of his career and returning to the top of the ATP rankings. The Serbian phenom dropped just one set on the streets at Melbourne Park, confirming that he has a very special feeling about this tournament.
In addition to unseating Carlos Alcaraz from the throne, the 35-year-old from Belgrade has hooked his archrival Rafael Nadal to the top of the all-time Grand Slam rankings. Nole will go hunting for overtaking already at Roland Garros, scheduled for the end of May on the red clay of Paris.
Given Rafa’s precarious conditions, many believe that the ‘Djoker’ can once again aspire to the ‘Calendar Grand Slam’. Goran Ivanisevic’s pupil had already touched this titanic feat in 2021, when he stopped him just one win from the finish line.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion will return to action in Dubai at the end of February, while his presence in Indian Wells and Miami remains uncertain. In fact, Novak has applied for special permission to enter the United States.
New details about Djokovic
«You’ll know everything in a few days,» Novak Djokovic promised after winning a 10th Australian Open synonymous with a 22nd Grand Slam title on January 29 despite a left hamstring injury.
Silent since then, the Serbian has not given any news. On the other hand, his physical trainer, Marco Panichi, said during an Instagram live that he will travel to Belgrade on Monday to prepare with Nole for the next tournament.
As the Serbian journalist Sasa Ozmo says, this information probably means that Djokovic is recovering from his injury and that a priori he should play the Dubai tournament, in which he is registered, from February 27 to March 4.
The logic then would be that he would only return to clay even if he filed an appeal to be able to enter the United States and thus play the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and Miami in March. Former world No. 4 Brad Gilbert believes Novak Djokovic’s game is a mix of the caliber of tennis legends Andre Agassi and Ivan Lendl.
«I really believe that if you put Andre Agassi and Ivan Lendl in the blender, you get Novak Djokovic,» Gilbert said. «The only difference is that Djokovic is igniting fast. Both Agassi and Lendl were quick and they were able to cover the floor, but they weren’t igniting as fast as Novak,» he said.
