Tennis champ reflects on his love for Australia

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Ten-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic has revealed how he went into “lockdown beast mode” at the Melbourne grand slam during a reign of dominance unlike almost any other in the sport.

As he prepares to equal Roger Federer’s record 21 Australian Open main draw appearances, Djokovic professed his love for Australia and backed himself in to still conquer anyone, including Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

“No one is, no one was and no one will ever be unbeatable,” Djokovic said.

But the undisputed king of Melbourne Park has been close to it in this country – and Australia will forever be etched in his legacy.

He said he had always used the Open as a launching pad for the season, and the motivation to start the year with a bang sparked his “beast mode”.

Djokovic qualified for his first grand slam at the Australian Open in 2005 – losing to eventual champion Marat Safin, who defeated Lleyton Hewitt in the final – won his maiden major title in Melbourne three years later, and his 10 Open championships are the most in the open era, ahead of Federer’s six.

Only Rafael Nadal’s 14 Roland-Garros singles titles surpass Djokovic’s phenomenal grand slam feats in Australia.

Australian Open boss Craig Tiley even told this masthead last year that he was open to erecting a statue of Djokovic at Melbourne Park to recognise his unmatched accomplishments here.

That honour is so far reserved only for Australia’s tennis greats.

“I would be extremely flattered and honoured and proud, but it’s uncomfortable for me to talk about something that’s not there,” Djokovic said. “If it happens, of course, I would be more than thrilled.”

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Djokovic is statistically the greatest men’s player ever, boasting a record 24 grand slam and 40 Masters 1000 titles, the most number of weeks at No.1 (118 weeks longer than Federer) and an Olympic gold medal among an extraordinary resume cultivated in arguably tennis’ strongest era.

At 38, he is more than two years removed from his last major title, but incredibly remains one of the best players on the planet and is coming off a season in which he made the semi-finals at all four majors.

No man or woman has ever won 25 grand slam singles titles, and it is assumed that goal is the driving force keeping him playing, but Djokovic has arrived in the country in a reflective mood.

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“I try to focus on what I have achieved, not what I’m possibly achieving,” he said.

“I hope it comes to that [winning No.25], but 24 is also not a bad number. I have to appreciate that and remind myself of the amazing career I have had.”

Sinner and Alcaraz have cemented themselves as the men to beat with a brilliant past two years – and they ended Djokovic’s title hopes at the final three slams last year.

However, the incomparable Djokovic is still as big a threat to them as anyone.

That was proven last year when the super Serb eliminated Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarter-finals, and only a hamstring injury in his next match against Alexander Zverev prevented him from reaching an 11th final.

“Of course, the level of Sinner and Alcaraz is extremely high, and I’m familiar with that level because I had it, along with Roger and Rafa, for many years,” Djokovic said.

“When you’re riding that wave, and you’re young, and bursting with strength and power, it’s an amazing feeling.

“But I have experience, and faith in myself, and hopefully, my body will hold on. That, particularly in the last couple of years, is my biggest challenge. If my body holds on and the game is there, I can compete with anyone.”

Djokovic will break a tie for main draw appearances with Hewitt and Feliciano Lopez, and join Federer with the most at 21, when he walks onto Rod Laver Arena on Monday night to face Spaniard Pedro Martinez.

“I know how much Lleyton cared about playing at home, and he had great longevity, particularly in Australia, so it’s amazing to be able to surpass him – but I want to keep going,” he said.

“I want to see how far I can go this year. I know there are a lot of questions about whether I’m physically able to sustain the level or not. But I’ve been putting in a lot of work in the last couple of months to get myself to a desired level of mental and physical preparation.

“I cannot predict what’s going to happen, but I can definitely assure myself and everyone else that I’ve given my all, as I always do in slams, particularly here in Australia.

“I love playing here, and the results are testament to that.”

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Djokovic rates two of his Australian Open titles above all others: the first for obvious reasons, but also his spellbinding 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5 triumph over Nadal in the sport’s longest major final across five hours and 53 minutes in 2012.

The scenes afterwards are part of Melbourne Park folklore, starting with Djokovic animatedly ripping his shirt off and roaring towards his team before the exhausted pair, who embraced at the net, sat on chairs during the ceremony, in a break from convention.

“It was obvious on the court for everybody who watched the match that both of us, physically, took the last drop of energy that we had from our bodies,” Djokovic said at the time.

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