DJOKOVIC DRIVEN TO BE BEST OF ALL TIME
HE has drawn level with Rafael Nadal on career grand slams, but Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic already has loftier goals – including the ‘untouchable’ 50-year-old record set by the great Margaret Court.
By overcoming a hamstring injury and beating Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to claim a record tenth Australian Open title, Djokovic reached 22 slams alongside Nadal.
However, with the Spanish great battling injuries to continue his career, the Serbian star is now poised to become the most successful male player in the Open era.
Djokovic is not content with being the equal-best male player of all time.
First, he wants to become the greatest player of any gender in the Open era by overtaking Serena Williams’ 23 career slam titles.
Then he has his sights set on Australian superstar Margaret Court, who notched up 24 career singles titles, a once untouchable record set in 1973. ‘Of course I am motivated to win as many slams as possible,’ Djokovic said when asked if he felt he could reel in Court.
‘At this stage of my career, these trophies are the biggest motivational factor of why I still compete.
‘I still have lots of motivation. Let’s see how far it takes me. I really don’t want to stop here. I don’t have intention to stop here.’
Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic revealed how bad his charge’s hamstring injury was during the tournament. ‘I don’t say 100%, but 97% of the players, on Saturday when you get results of the MRI, you go straight to the referee office and pull out of the tournament.’