Three months before turning 36, Novak Djokovic is the world’s best player. The Serb has been at the top of men’s tennis since 2007, fighting for notable titles and achieving 22 Majors and 38 Masters 1000 crowns. Hungry for more, Djokovic still plays with incredible self-belief, saying he remains a player to beat as long as he is healthy. Novak lost the Roland Garros title to Rafael Nadal last year and stood far behind the ATP throne. Djokovic conquered the 21st Major at Wimbledon but did not get a well-deserved 2000 points. To make things even worse, the Serb skipped Montreal, Cincinnati and the US Open and lost ground to the rivals from the top. Novak started his comeback at the end of September, winning Tel Aviv and Astana and setting his eyes on Paris and Turin.
Djokovic failed to lift his seventh Paris Masters following a defeat to Holger Rune in a thrilling final. However, the Serb bounced back at the ATP Finals and scored five wins to add 1500 ATP points to his tally and wrap up the year in the top-5. Novak was ready for more at the start of 2023, conquering Adelaide following a match point saved in the final versus Sebastian Korda. Djokovic experienced a left leg injury in the semi-final, winning the title but raising doubts ahead of his Australian Open campaign. At some points, Novak did not play well in the opening three rounds, struggling with an injury and requiring medical timeouts.
Novak Djokovic is hungry for more notable titles in the upcoming years.
Still, he overpowered three rivals and fixed the issues by the fourth round after bringing a doctor from Belgrade to help him. Djokovic was a different player since the clash against Alex de Minaur, moving freely and defeating four rivals in straight sets to emerge at the top and lift the 22nd Major crown. Novak met Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final and scored a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 victory, saving a set point at 4-5 in the second set and prevailing in the crucial moments to write history. Djokovic will chase his sixth Dubai crown next week, hoping to add more points to his tally after losing in the quarter-final a year ago.
“I believe that what worked for me and still works for me is that self-belief and confidence level. Of course, always balanced with respect toward the opponent and the game, appreciation for the moment and what you are going through. It’s about self-belief; when I’m ready and out there on the court, on any surface and against anybody, I’m the best. There is nothing arrogant or pretentious about it,” Novak Djokovic said.
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