Novak Djokovic Is Poised for Another Title Run at the Australian Open
Novak Djokovic is a man on a mission. His ultimate goal? To become the all-time men’s leader in Grand Slam titles.
Thanks to a historic 2015 that saw him take home three majors (and fall just one win shy of a calendar Grand Slam), he now holds 10 in his career—still a distance behind Roger Federer’s record of 17 but not too far away to be considered unattainable. Djokovic, 28, is in his absolute prime and should produce several more astounding seasons.
To even think about eventually usurping Federer, he’ll need a strong 2016 campaign. There’s no reason why Djokovic can’t pick up where he left off last year, and that journey will intensify as he seeks a sixth Australian Open crown in the coming weeks.
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Succinctly describing what exactly makes Djokovic’s game so salivating is not an easy task. He leaves one at a loss for words with how effortless he makes the impossible look possible, his near-perfect technical genius and physical grace.
Arguably the greatest defender/returner ever and equipped with an incredibly deadly backhand, Djokovic is already well on his way to carving his place on tennis’ Mount Rushmore.
He sends fear directly into the heart of his opponents, who know it may require the effort of a lifetime just to sniff a win against him. Just two matches into the 2016 season, it’s been more of the same.
At his season-opening stop in Doha, Qatar, Djokovic has wasted no time sending a message. With a pair of lopsided victories against Robin Haase and Fernando Verdasco, he’s racing toward a possible final showdown there with Rafael Nadal. Not that he necessarily needs a title before leaving for Melbourne, but another potential win against the Spaniard would have his confidence soaring even higher and strike a psychological blow to his rival.
Let’s not forget: Djokovic owns the Australian Open. The five-time champion has claimed four of the last five titles Down Under, advancing to at least the quarterfinals eight consecutive times. For all his grandeur at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, Rod Laver Arena might as well be his second home.
As he told AFP (h/t the National) last year:
"This is generally my most successful Grand Slam and the tournament where over the years I've performed my best tennis.
It’s probably the fact that I enjoy the conditions of play, the faster courts and I enjoy being in Australia. It’s the beginning of the year. It’s the first big tournament.
Everybody comes fresh and motivated. I guess it’s a combination of things that make me feel comfortable on the court here.
"
Something about the energetic crowds, the bright lights and the scorching heat brings out the best in Djokovic. There’s no situation too big for him.
Expect Djokovic to roll into Melbourne firing on all cylinders. He'll have a very large target on his back as the rest of the field desperately look to chip away at his aura of invincibility, but his comfort level on those courts can't be underestimated.
ESPN’s Peter Bodo wrote of him: “Djokovic is a rational, well-adjusted man who appears to cherish his place in the world, accepting it as a privilege rather than an entitlement—or a burden.”
That mindset is his real weapon. Instead of approaching tennis as a game, Djokovic sees it as a gift—and he's focused on making the most of his time on the court.
He has an important opportunity coming up. Even with a hungry Federer and a hopeful cast led by Nadal, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka snapping at his heels, Djokovic is the unanimous favorite at this year’s Australian Open. No matter how great those other men perform, the Serb has a top gear that no other player can reach at the moment. If he’s on, look out.
The run Djokovic is on lately is historic, if not transcendent. He's almost evolved beyond the boundaries of the sport and turned it into an art. How will anyone be able to topple him in Australia?
His most serious challenger will likely be Federer, who beat Djokovic in three finals last year. The Swiss' recent hiring of Ivan Ljubicic (who's very familiar with Djokovic) didn't go unnoticed on the world No. 1; he senses a threat. But there may not be a better player when it comes to overcoming such an obstacle.
Murray, the man Djokovic has already defeated in three Australian Open finals, will be on the opposite side of the draw. So another championship showdown could be coming. In that case, the Serb would have the clear and decided edge.
In that top echelon of contenders also stands Wawrinka, who's met Djokovic the last three years in Melbourne. Each one of those matches went five grueling sets, and the tennis world yearns for another encore.
Wawrinka's victory over him in last year's French Open final adds extra intrigue to a potential clash, yet Djokovic would love to dish out some payback.
Nadal is another player eager to salvage something against Djokovic, but he's lost eight of their past nine meetings and hasn't won a set against the Serb in their last four matches. Still trying to regain his mojo, the Spaniard isn't quite ready to mount a coup.
Those men and many others have their work cut out for them. Djokovic is a powerful locomotive headed toward one of his favorite destinations: championship Sunday.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.
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