The 38-year-old Serb on the eve of the tournament he has won 10 times: “I’m ranked fourth in the world, and these goals motivate me. Sinner and Alcaraz are on another level, but that doesn’t mean the others don’t have a chance”
On these courts, Novak Djokovic has claimed 10 of his 24 precious Grand Slam titles. Here, Nole—who will make his debut on Monday in the evening match at Rod Laver Arena against Spain’s Martinez—aims to battle against the relentless passage of time and his young rivals to reach 25 titles and become the player with the most Grand Slams in men’s and women’s tennis history. With a few neck niggles and solid training sessions, it’s the usual Djoker, keeping his opponents guessing: “I wrapped up the season in the first week of November, so it’s been a while since I last played in an official tournament. I took a little break and dedicated more time to rebuilding my body, because I realize that in recent years, this is what has changed the most for me: it takes longer to recover. Unfortunately, I had a minor issue that prevented me from playing in the Adelaide tournament. That’s why I didn’t go there, but so far, everything is going very well here.”
The race toward the milestone of 25 doesn’t put pressure on him; at 38—and turning 39 in May—he feels he still has time. Last season he reached the semifinals in all four Grand Slams, so why be pessimistic? “In general, I try to focus on what I’ve already achieved, not on what I might achieve. I hope to break that record, but 24 isn’t a bad number. I need to appreciate it and remind myself of the incredible career I’ve had. And I also need to let go of some of that unnecessary pressure. I’m grateful to have another opportunity, especially here—a place where I’ve won 10 Grand Slam titles and where I’ve consistently played well; I had a great win against Carlos in the quarterfinals last year. When I’m healthy and can put all the pieces of the puzzle together on the right day, I feel like I can beat anyone.” In short, hanging up the racket is absolutely out of the question: “If I didn’t have this confidence and self-assurance, I wouldn’t be here competing. I’m still motivated, and I also understand that Sinner and Alcaraz are currently playing at a different level than everyone else. That’s a fact, but it doesn’t mean the others don’t have a chance. I’ve broken practically every record there is to break in this sport, and I’m still living my dream.”
GOALS— Fueled by adrenaline and goals: “Goals are my guiding star, but they aren’t my only motivation. There’s also passion and love for the game. There’s the interaction with people, the energy you feel when you step onto the court. That rush of adrenaline is almost like a drug, honestly. Many of the top athletes in different sports can relate to this. I’ve heard them talk about it: it’s true… it’s addictive, that feeling of competing. I’ve often been asked when the end will come, but I don’t want to talk about it or think about it yet. I’m here; I’m competing. When that moment arrives and sinks in, I’ll share it with you, and then we can talk about a possible farewell tour. For now, I’m still number 4 in the world, and I don’t see the need to draw attention to this topic.” It doesn’t get any clearer than that…
