You’ll seldom guess in opposition to a defending champion touchdown the title once more on the identical turf. And whether it is Novak Djokovic on the Australian Open, you then dare not!
With a lion’s share of his 17 Grand Slam titles, eight to be exact, gained on the Australian Open, the Melbourne Park has been a contented looking floor for the Serb.
In a way, the Melbourne Park is to Djokovic what the Roland-Garros has been for his archrival, Rafael Nadal, giving him 13 of his 20 Main crowns.
So going into the 12 months’s first Grand Slam in February, Djokovic will begin because the bookmakers’ favourite to clinch his ninth Australian Open title. Ought to he win his ninth on the imposing Rod Laver Area on February 21, Djokovic would equal Martina Navratilova’s feat of the second highest variety of titles on the identical Grand Slam occasion.
Djokovic bidding to equal Navratilova’s file of most titles at single Grand Slam occasion
Navratilova gained 9 Wimbledon titles, a file which continues to face to at the present time. In order Djokovic bids for his ninth Australian Open crown subsequent 12 months, who ought to he be cautious of?
It’s nonetheless unsure if Roger Federer will give himself an opportunity to avenge his semi-final loss to Djokovic final 12 months. The Swiss icon not too long ago stated that his restoration from a second knee surgical procedure continues to be delayed and that he will not be prepared in time for the 12 months’s first Grand Slam.
Whereas the veteran is already into his pre-season coaching block in Dubai, there’s an excellent likelihood that he could not play the Australian Open. Ought to that occur, it will likely be one much less title challenger for Djokovic to fret about.
Why Novak Djokovic must be cautious of the youthful crop
One other title contender that the Serb could be cautious of is, after all, Nadal. With 5 Australian Open titles to his credit score, the Spaniard could be hungry for the sixth and cut back his 27-29 head-to-head deficit in opposition to Djokovic.
Reigning US Open champion Dominic Thiem would additionally pose a potent title problem to the Serb. The Austrian beat Djokovic on the ATP Finals this 12 months, closing the head-to-head hole to 5-7. He was additionally the shedding finalist on the Australian Open final 12 months. Seen as one to shake the ‘Large Three’s’ maintain over Grand Slams, Thiem has the sport to take out Djokovic on his completely happy looking floor.
Additionally, don’t rule out the likes of Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev and younger Jannik Sinner from engineering an upset win over the Serb.
Learn Extra: “It is simply impossible”: Novak Djokovic on US Open 2020
At 33, Djokovic isn’t the youngest within the males’s circuit and one reckons he might need to attempt to shut out factors early and minimize down on lengthy rallies in opposition to the youthful crop if he has to make one other Australian Open closing, and probably win his ninth.
This put up was final modified on December 25, 2020 4:52 pm
