If Novak Djokovic wins the Australian Open, he will become the oldest Grand Slam singles winner in the Open era.
The first Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season, the Australian Open, starts this weekend. The biggest favorites in the men’s series have shared last season’s Grand Slam victories Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
However, lurking in the background is a man who still can’t be forgotten from the winning speculations. Novak Djokovic is still aiming for new records at the age of 37.
Djokovic is already the all-time record holder with 24 Grand Slam tournament wins. On the women’s side Margaret Court has also won 24 championships, if you also count titles before the open era of tennis.
One more trophy would take Djokovic without any reservations to the number one Grand Slam championships.
Another record is in Djokovic’s sights. Should he win in Australia, he would be the oldest Grand Slam singles winner in the Open era – since 1968.
Ken Rosewall won his last Grand Slam at the age of 37 years and two months in 1972. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer took their last championships at the age of 36.
Rosewall is still the oldest champion, but Djokovic is already six months older than the Australian was then.
How realistic is a Djokovic title in Australia? Last year was the Serbian’s first since 2017 without winning a Grand Slam and the first since 2005 without even winning an actual ATP tournament.
But he won Olympic gold, the only major championship he still lacked.
The Australian Open has been the best major tournament for Djokovic. He has won it ten times in total.
– You can never count him out if everything goes well… I think his best chance is in Australia or maybe Wimbledon, the former world no. Stefan Edberg told the BBC.
A tennis legend Billie Jean King on the BBC recommended a similar approach to Djokovic for 2025 as last year.
– My question to Djokovic is: “If you could win only one tournament in 2025, what would it be?”. Then I would focus on that. Must be reasonable, he is 37 years old.
Andy Murray as coach
Djokovic shared some interesting news at the end of the year when he announced his fierce competition partner Andy Murray’s as his future coach. Djokovic and Murray met seven times in Grand Slam finals.
Former players have been seen a lot as coaches, but usually only years after their careers. Murray ended his career last year and practically immediately became Djokovic’s coach. Murray and Djokovic are only seven days apart in age.
– Murray knows all the players who are playing now. But above all, he brings inspiration and motivation to Novak. Small things can be decisive, Edberg said.
Djokovic started his season in Brisbane, where he lost to a hard serve in the quarterfinals Reilly Opelka. Now Djokovic and Murray have already moved to Melbourne to prepare for the Australian Open.