The 36-year-old enjoyed one of the most dominant seasons of his career in 2023, winning three majors to go level with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
Novak Djokovic resumes his hunt for Grand Slam supremacy at the Australian Open, where the putatively insurmountable Serb will be the establishment favourite to claim his 25th major mates title and outdo a record that has stood for half a century.
The 36- time-old enjoyed one of the most dominant seasons of his career in 2023, winning a record- extending 10th crown at the Melbourne major before triumphs at the French and U.S. Opens to go position with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam mates titles.
Australian Court won the last of those glories in 1973 and Djokovic is poised to go past her on his happiest stalking ground, where 12 months ago he brazened a political row involving his father and battled through a torn hamstring to prevail.
Barring a blip in a thrilling Wimbledon final against Carlos Alcaraz and a couple of late- season defeats by another youth in Jannik Sinner, the world number one was nearly unstoppable last time with little to suggest he’ll decelerate down in 2024.
“You ’re not really meant to play tennis like that at 36, ” Djokovic’s former trainer Boris Becker said in a recent Eurosport podcast.
“When does the joe get tired, or when does he run out of provocation? ”
Djokovic has not got off to the stylish of thresholds in the new season, suffering his first defeat in Australia in six times at the United Cup mixed platoon event after being hampered by a right wrist issue against Alex de Minaur.
“I suppose I ’ll be okay, ” Djokovic said. “ It did have quite an impact, particularly on the forehand and serve. I’ve plenitude of time, I suppose enough time to get myself in the right shape for the Australian Open. ”
With his 43- match winning run in Australia ended, Djokovic will be fired up to get a head start in his hunt for the Golden Slam- winning all four majors and the gold order at the Olympic Games- to match Steffi Graf’s rare feat in 1988.
“I ’ve have always the loftiest intentions and pretensions. That’s not going to be different (in 2024), that’s for sure, ” Djokovic said after outdistancing Alcaraz and Sinner in back- to- back matches to secure the time- end top spot at the ATP Tests in November.
“The drive that I’ve is still there. My body has been serving me well, harkening to me well. I’ve a great platoon of people around me. The provocation, especially for the biggest events in the sport, is still present. Know More Latest Sports News…
