“That’s why he’s No. 1 in the world”.
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Djokovic is now, emphatically, the best tennis player in the world.
The Belarusian, a two-time champion at Melbourne Park, struggled with foot and knee problems in 2014 and only played nine tournaments, also battling depression and a split from long-term boyfriend Stefan Gordy, better known as Redfoo, the USA musician and reality TV star. His only loss was against Roger Federer at the ATP World Tour Finals during the round robin stage.
Nadal has won once in Australia, over Federer in a classic five-set final in 2009, and has had some of his career low points with tournament-ending injuries in Melbourne.
This is the rare air Djokovic is now breathing.
Sharapova, an Australian Open victor herself in 2008, also comes to Melbourne with no matches under her belt in 2016 as the Russian skipped defending her title in Brisbane with a left forearm injury.
Here we look at the main contenders in the men and women’s singles competitions.
Djokovic may well reach $100 million before Federer, but majors, not money, remain the measure of greatness.
The 21-time major singles champion pulled out of the Hopman Cup two weeks ago with knee inflammation and has played nearly no competitive tennis since the US Open last September. “Show my creative side, what I can do”, she said. I love fans here.
To highlight the Bowie-esque longevity of these men – consider that Marcos Baghdatis and Jo Wilfried-Tsonga, both former finalists in Melbourne and once seen as possible challengers to the incumbent all-time greats – celebrated their 30th birthdays previous year.
“I believe in myself knowing, okay, I may not have played five matches in Brisbane, but if I commit myself, train well, get some practice sets in, I know with that mindset I’ll be able to take it that, yes, I might be rusty, make a few more unforced errors than I would like, but I’m ready to go”, she said.
But the Swiss says he’s too busy worrying on his own game to be concerned about the world No.1. “Over the years I managed to improve my transition from the defence to offense”.
“When you are in the top, you have injuries, is tougher to recover that confidence and that level of tennis”.
“It was the first time I played her and she was one of the players I grew up watching when I was younger, so it was definitely a different experience to where I’m at now”.
Paul Annacone, onetime coach to Federer and Sampras, summed up Djokovic’s game in two words: relentless perfection. “He hits pretty solid from back of the court”, he said.
“Sometimes it’s very hard to handle (the conditions) if it goes over 40 degrees”, Djokovic said. Defeat in the French Open final against Wawrinka prevented a stellar season from making the leap to historic.
“Of course, he’s one of the favourites to win this trophy”. More slam wins are on the menu for the Manacor native.
In the women’s draw, Britain’s Johanna Konta is drawn with seven-time Major champion Venus Williams. He could meet either in the semi-finals. “Now and then you have to shake Stan’s hand and say, ‘Son of a bitch”.
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Mind you, players might also decide to play or get through the Australian Open and then rest and recuperate in between Melbourne and the second slam, Roland Garros in Paris.
