‘Mark my words’ – Former world number four predicts Novak Djokovic to surge to title at next event

Greg Rusedski has no doubt that Novak Djokovic will win the next event he plays, citing his Australian Open debacle as a major motivator to come back stronger. 

After being barred from competing at the 2022 Australian Open, the world number one has not played competitively since the Davis Cup Finals in early December last year.

Now, 1997 US Open finalist Rusedski has claimed that Djokovic will come back with a vengeance to triumph immediately on his ATP tour return.

“So Djokovic wants to go down as the greatest male tennis player in the history of the sport,” Rusedski said on Tennis Channel.

“Probably even break Margaret Court’s record of 24 Majors,” the former British number one added.

“So I think the next tournament he plays where he’s going to be allowed to play, depending on his status with vaccinations, and so forth, and countries’ rules towards that.

“Mark my words, he’s going to win his first event back.”

Djokovic is set to appear at the ATP 500 Dubai Tennis Championships beginning 21st February, an event he has won five times before.

Beyond that Rusedski believes Djokovic will be eyeing the grass and hard courts in particular at Slam level for the rest of 2022.

“Well, Djokovic is gotta be, you know, upset about the whole situation Down Under,” he explained.

“He’ll be thinking ‘Okay, I should win Wimbledon this year, then the US Open.’

“So I think this is gonna be an amazing year.

Yeah, with with these guys, oh yeah, he’s gonna have the bit between his teeth.”

Djokovic will also be defending champion when Roland Garros 2022 rolls around on 22nd May.

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