Novak Djokovic Eyes Melbourne Glory Once Again, Even as Sinner and Alcaraz Set the Pace
MELBOURNE, Australia - The men’s game may be in the midst of a youth movement, but Novak Djokovic isn’t going quietly. Far from it.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been the headline acts at the majors recently, dominating the last eight Grand Slam tournaments between them. But Djokovic, now 38, has been right there in the mix.
He reached the semifinals at all four majors in 2025-falling to either Sinner or Alcaraz in three of them-and finished the year ranked No. 4 in the world. Not bad for a guy who’s spent nearly two decades at the top and is still chasing history.
“We don't need to praise them too much,” Djokovic said with a grin during his Media Day press conference. “They’ve been praised enough.
We know how good they are, and they absolutely deserve to be where they are. They are the dominant forces of men's tennis at the moment.”
But don’t mistake that for surrender. Djokovic made it clear: he’s still here to compete.
"I'm still trying to be in the mix,” he said. “I'm grateful to have the better ranking so I could have eventually better draws in the first several rounds.
That doesn't affect the way I approach a Slam. My priority is really taking care of my body and treating every match like it’s a final-while also trying to build momentum and not spend unnecessary energy.
Hopefully I can go far again and get a chance to play them.”
Djokovic enters this year’s Australian Open chasing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. He hasn’t played a match since lifting his 101st career ATP trophy in Athens last fall, where he outlasted Lorenzo Musetti in what he called an “incredible battle.” He skipped the year-end ATP Finals in Turin and pulled out of the Adelaide warm-up event, opting instead to focus on recovery and preparation.
“I took some time off, and obviously more time to rebuild my body,” he explained. “That’s what’s changed the most for me in the last couple of years-it takes more time to rebuild, and more time to reset or recover. Every day there’s something here or there, I guess for all of us, but generally I feel good and look forward to competing.”
If there’s a place for Djokovic to make a statement, it’s Melbourne. He’s won 10 titles at the Australian Open-more than anyone in history-and his most recent triumph here came with a signature win over Alcaraz in the quarterfinals last year.
That match was a masterclass in resilience, but it came at a cost. The physical toll led to an injury that forced him out in the semis.
Still, that victory proved he can still hang with, and beat, the best of the new generation.
“I understand that Sinner and Alcaraz are playing on a different level right now from everybody else,” Djokovic admitted. “That’s a fact.
But that doesn’t mean nobody else has a chance. I like my chances always, in any tournament-particularly here.”
That quiet confidence is classic Djokovic. He knows he’s not the favorite anymore, but he also knows what it takes to win at the highest level-especially in Melbourne, where the court, the crowd, and the conditions have long played to his strengths.
At this stage of his career, Djokovic isn’t just chasing titles-he’s chasing fulfillment. The pressure of records and milestones still lingers, but he’s trying to keep it all in perspective.
“Twenty-four is not a bad number,” he said with a laugh, referencing his current Grand Slam count.
"I'm still living my dream, to be honest. Achievements are one of the highest motivations you can have, of course.
That’s a kind of guiding star, but it’s not the only motivation. It’s passion and love for the game.
It’s the interaction with people. It’s the energy you feel when you walk out on the court.
That adrenaline rush-it’s almost like a drug, to be honest.”
Djokovic has hinted before that the 2028 Summer Olympics might be a natural endpoint to his career. But for now, he’s focused on the present-and on Pedro Martinez, his first-round opponent on Monday.
It’s a new season, a new Slam, and a familiar setting for one of the sport’s greatest champions. The game may be evolving, but Djokovic is still right in the thick of it. And as long as he’s on the court, the road to the title still runs through him.