Melbourne
No man has dominated the Australian Open like Novak Djokovic but the steely Serb’s reign over the blue hardcourts of Melbourne Park may be set for its biggest challenge in years when the tournament gets underway next week.
Bidding for a record-extending ninth Australian Open title, the world number one and double-defending champion remains the runaway favourite at his favourite Grand Slam where he once remarked that he felt touched by the “divine”.
Yet, for once, Djokovic may hear the rumbling of hooves as the likes of Austrian Dominic Thiem and Germany’s Alexander Zverev look to storm the fortress.
Djokovic won his eighth Australian Open title last year and finished the COVID-19 pandemic-blighted 2020 season with the top ranking for a sixth year.
But it was a tumultuous season for the 33-year-old as he suffered a slew of setbacks on and off the court.
Disqualified from the U.S. Open for accidentally hitting a ball into a line judge, Djokovic was thrashed by Rafa Nadal in the French Open final and bundled out of the ATP Finals in the last four by Thiem.
He now heads into the Australian Open with his cloak of invincibility frayed and with younger rivals smelling blood.
“He might not be able to necessarily trust his form,” three-time Australian Open champion Mats Wilander told Reuters. “It’s been a year (since he won his last Grand Slam) and you can’t just dig back to the other eight times you won it.—AFP
