Feeling on the peak of his powers, even at 35, Novak Djokovic isn’t ruling out sweeping previous Margaret Court and turning into probably the most prolific grand slam singles champion of all time.
Forget his compelling race with Rafael Nadal for the lads’s majors file, Djokovic plans on surpassing Court’s age-old benchmark of 24 singles slams and posting a quantity no tennis participant will ever catch.
Djokovic’s 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) Australian Open last conquer Stefanos Tsitsipas drew the Serbian powerhouse degree with Nadal on 22, additionally matching Steffi Graf’s whole haul.
Next up is Serena Williams’ 23, then Court’s 24, a as soon as untouchable goal the Australian set half a century in the past, in 1973.
“Of course I am motivated to win as many slams as possible,” Djokovic mentioned when requested if he felt he might reel in Court – after which keep it up.
“At this stage of my career, these trophies are the biggest motivational factor of why I still compete. That’s the case without a doubt.
“I still have lots of motivation. Let’s see how far it takes me. I really don’t want to stop here. I don’t have intention to stop here.”
Lauding his seemingly ageless cost for his fanatical strategy to weight loss program and coaching, Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic believes the daddy of two can play on for no less than two or three extra years.
But Djokovic, who ranked his 2023 Open marketing campaign “in the top two or three” for his degree of play regardless of carrying a hamstring damage for half the match, is putting no limits on himself.
“I feel great about my tennis. I know that when I’m feeling good physically, mentally present, I have a chance to win any slam against anybody. I like my chances going forward,” he mentioned.
“I don’t know how many more years I’m going to play or how many more slams I’m going to play. It depends on various things. It doesn’t depend only on my body.
“It’s extremely important for me to be, of course, first to have the support and love from the close ones, and ability to go and play and keep the balance with the private life.
“But at the same time I have the mental clarity or – how should I say – aspirations to really strive to chase these trophies.
“Physically I can keep myself fit. Of course, 35 is not 25, even though I want to believe it is. But I still feel there is time ahead of me. Let’s see how far I go.”
Djokovic returned to world No.1 on Monday, changing injured Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz, regardless of receiving no rankings factors for successful Wimbledon and sitting out final 12 months’s US Open – in addition to lacking the AO – for not being vaccinated towards COVID-19.
He’s nonetheless no certainty to contest the massive occasions in America this 12 months.
But his return to Roland Garros for the season’s second slam in May shall be fascinating as Djokovic and 14-times French Open champion Nadal resume their ongoing majors title race.
MOST GRAND SLAM SINGLES TENNIS TITLE WINNERS
24: Margaret Court (AUS)
23: Serena Williams (USA)
22: Steffi Graf (GER), Novak Djokovic (SRB), Rafael Nadal (ESP)
20: Roger Federer (SUI)
18: Martina Navratilova (USA), Chris Evert (USA)
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
