Novak Djokovic clearly shouldn’t be performed dominating his sport.
He says so.
His coach says so.
And, most significantly, his performances all through a draining run to a record-extending tenth Australian Open championship and record-tying twenty second Grand Slam title, plus his return Monday to No. 1 within the ATP rankings, say so.
His message Sunday evening, primarily, was: Look out.
“I nonetheless have a lot of motivation. Let’s see how far it takes me. I actually don’t need to cease right here. I don’t have intention to cease right here,” the 35-year-old Djokovic stated after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas, a person greater than a decade his junior, by a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) rating within the ultimate at Melbourne Park. “I really feel nice about my tennis. I do know that once I’m feeling good bodily, (and) mentally current, I’ve an opportunity to win any Slam towards anyone.”
Onerous to argue.
Not solely has no man received extra main trophies ( Rafael Nadal additionally has 22; Margaret Court docket, with 24, and Serena Williams, with 23, are the one gamers in historical past with extra), however Djokovic simply retains making use of fixed stress on opponents — whatever the floor or any obvious obstacles in his means.
He returned to Australia with some trepidation, uncertain of what kind of reception awaited a 12 months after he was deported for not being vaccinated towards COVID-19, and was advantageous. He handled a sore left hamstring, and was advantageous, dropping one set alongside the way in which to the title. He was bothered by the bizarre circumstances that saved his father — who had final attended the Australian Open 15 years in the past — away from Rod Laver Enviornment for Djokovic’s semifinal and ultimate, and was advantageous.
Effectively, capable of bottle all of that up, anyway, till the final level was performed. That’s when Djokovic “emotionally collapsed,” as he put it, sobbing within the stadium.
“It required an infinite psychological vitality, actually, to remain current, to remain centered, to take issues daily,” he stated, carrying a white zippered jacket with “22” printed on the chest, “and actually see how far I can go.”
His strokes are pure as could be. His athleticism, too. His resolve? Off the charts.
“Novak is a participant that pushes you to your limits,” is the way in which Tsitsipas defined it.
He would know. He has misplaced 10 consecutive matches to Djokovic, two in Grand Slam finals.
“I don’t see this as a curse. I don’t see this as one thing, like, annoying,” Tsitsipas continued. “This is superb for the game — to have rivals like him, to have champions like him.”
The “GOAT” debate — “Best of All-Time” — has consumed tennis followers for years, evaluating Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer. It’s an OK parlor recreation, positive, though foolish on its deserves. All three, it goes with out saying, are nice.
Federer, 41, is retired. Nadal, 37 in June, left Melbourne with an injured left hip flexor. Djokovic, 36 in Might, retains on conserving on.
For a way for much longer?
“Undoubtedly two, three extra years,” stated Goran Ivanisevic, the 2001 Wimbledon champion who has coached Djokovic since 2019. “The best way he’s taking good care of his physique, the way in which he (approaches) the whole lot, the meals, it’s superb.”
Djokovic received’t be pinned down on what he has left. Nor ought to he. Like Federer, like Nadal, like Williams, he can play so long as he pleases.
Let’s simply say Djokovic shouldn’t be glad with what he’s performed.
“I don’t know what number of extra years I’m going to play or what number of extra Slams I’m going to play. It is determined by numerous issues. It doesn’t rely solely on my physique,” the daddy of two stated, noting {that a} correct steadiness along with his household life is vital to him, too.
As it’s, Djokovic received 10 of the final 19 majors — Nadal has a half-dozen of these — and nobody collected extra after turning 30. There are children to maintain at bay, chief amongst them Carlos Alcaraz, who received the U.S. Open and rose to No. 1 in September at 19 however missed the Australian Open with a leg harm.
Djokovic wasn’t at Flushing Meadows for a similar purpose he wasn’t at Melbourne Park final 12 months, and the USA, not like Australia, nonetheless shouldn’t be admitting unvaccinated foreigners.
However earlier than that, Djokovic is certain to be the favourite at Roland Garros if Nadal isn’t wholesome, and at Wimbledon, which he already has received seven instances.
“Bodily, I can hold myself match. In fact, 35 shouldn’t be 25, regardless that I need to imagine it’s,” Djokovic stated. “However I nonetheless really feel there may be time forward of me. Let’s see how far I’m going.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed)