Novak Djokovic will head to Melbourne knowing full well that his chances of winning a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title are getting slimmer.
After all, as he ages and his body declines, the technical and physical superiority of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner only grows.
The gulf this duo has created between themselves and the rest of the ATP Tour is stark, and explains why they have shared all of the last eight major titles.
However, when asked if Novak Djokovic stands a chance of disrupting that duopoly at the upcoming Australian Open, Greg Rusedski refused to rule him out.
Greg Rusedski backs Novak Djokovic to compete for the Australian Open title
Speaking exclusively to Tennis365, the former British number one sought to assess the Serbian’s chances of doing the unthinkable and winning Grand Slam number 25.
Rusedski admitted: “The guy is nearly 39 years of age, we need to keep him in the game for as long as we can. He is the greatest of all-time, no doubt.”
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“He is the GOAT when it comes to preparation. Nutrition, fitness, not leaving any stone unturned.
“I always like a little bit of chocolate and too much caffeine, but Novak doesn’t allow himself anything. He is obsessive about perfection, doing whatever it takes. He is always trying to find solutions.”
However, he refused to rule him out: “Is the age thing against him? Of course it is, but I can’t wait to see what happens in Australia. You can never discount great champions.”
Djokovic’s comments about his off-season have led some to claim that this will be his best chance in some time to finally complete his trophy cabinet.
Novak Djokovic’s worrying withdrawal ahead of the Australian Open
What might scupper Djokovic’s chances of another Australian Open title, and has held him back from competing with Alcaraz and Sinner properly over the last year, is his fitness.
And, worryingly, there have been some signs ahead of the Australian Open that suggest he might not be at the perfect level needed to go toe-to-toe with these legendary youngsters.
The 39-year-old was scheduled to play a warm-up tournament in Adelaide, but withdrew.
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He claimed: “To all my fans in Adelaide, unfortunately, I am not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week. It’s personally very disappointing to me as I have such great memories of winning the title there two years ago. I was really excited about returning as it truly feels like playing at home.
“My focus is now on my preparation for the Australian Open and I look forward to arriving in Melbourne soon and seeing all the tennis fans in Australia.”
Hopefully, this is just an exercise in conserving energy, rather than a withdrawal to protect an injury or fitness concern.
