Nobody who saw Novak Djokovic winning the Australian Open Sunday can doubt that he’s a man with a mission. That he greatly hankers after Roger Federer’s Grand Slam record was there for all to see.
The dramatic manner in which he hit back to beat Dominic Theme after being down 2 sets to one said it all.
He was all guile, experience, icy calm and determination as he as pressurised Theme into losing his iron grip on the game. The Serbian star won the hard-fought first set, but the younger 26-year-old Austrian took command in the next two.
However by the end of the 5th set Theme was clearly flustered and making too many mistakes. In the last half hour, Djokovic’s eventual 3 sets to two victory at Melbourne Park was almost a foregone conclusion.
His victory gave him a record eight Australian Open singles title and took him to his 17th Grand Slam victory. That still leaves him three short of Roger Federer’s Grand Slam record of 20. It’s also three short of Rafael Nadal’s 19.
Djokovic seems to have the most wins in Him
Of the super star trio, though, Djokovic looks to have the most wins left in him. Federer at 38 has reached the age where Grand Slams start drying up. He might win one or two more, but that’s about it.
Nadal, 33, is five years younger and as the World’s No 1 clay court specialist, he’s bound to win more French Opens. But of them all, Djokovic, 32, seems capable of winning most often across the board on the various Grand Slam surfaces; hard-court, grass and clay.
Djokovic will turn 33 two days before the French Open starts, and there is no question the Serbian wants to climb to the top of the all-time list.
“At this stage of my career, grand slams are the ones I value the most. They are the ones I prioritise,” Djokovic said.
“I do have professional goals. Grand slams are one of the main reasons why I am still competing and still playing a full season.
Getting to World No 1 is Djokovic’s other big goal
“Obviously trying to get the historic number one. That’s my other big goal.
“I’ve put myself in a position that is really good at the moment. I’m super happy with the way I started the season. It kind of sets the tone for the rest of the year.
“I’ve had that privilege to win this big tournament eight times. To start off the season with a grand slam win significantly boosts your confidence and your expectations are then quite high for the rest of it.
“But whatever happens, this season is already successful.”
From the start, Djokovic has used the Australian Open as a platform to craft great seasons. He’s also used it to build one of the game’s standout tennis careers.
Djokovic landed first Slam in Australian Open
It was in Melbourne 12 years ago that he landed his first Slam, beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and he will almost certainly start as favourite in 12 months’ time when he targets a ninth Australian Open.
Right now he is the favourite of the New Jersey sports betting industry to win this year’s Wimbledon and US Open Grand slams and their third favourite behind Nadal and Theme for the French Open
“In the first part of my career, I was dreaming of winning as many grand slams as possible,” Djokovic said.
“When I started winning a couple of grand slams a year, a few years in a row, that’s where I actually felt I could maybe challenge Roger and Pete Sampras. These guys were winning the most grand slams in the history of tennis.”
Djokovic’s second target of finishing as the player with the most weeks as ATP world number one is eminently achievable, and could be secured this season.
He will begin a 276th week in the top ranking on Monday, with only Sampras (286 weeks) and Federer (310 weeks) ahead of him.
New Jersey sports’ betting’s 2020 Grand Slams favourites:
Here are the top five favourites for the three remaining Grand Slam tournaments this year. Djokovic heads two of the three.
French Open: Nadal -120; Thiem +300; Djokovic +300; Tsitsipas +1600; Zverev +2000
Wimbeldon: Djokovic +150, Federer +450, Nadal +450, Medvedev +700, Tsitsipcas +120
US Open: Djokovic +150; Nadal +350; Federer +600; Medvedev +900; Thiem +1000.
Make no mistake, he's after the historic #1 Grand Slam record ????#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/c7Rn88zJuf
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 2, 2020