Djokovic remains dominant despite youngsters wave
FOR any player other than Novak Djokovic, a subpar Australian Open at 36 might have prompted pundits to start drafting his tennis obituary, but the Serb is no ordinary player.
While Djokovic missed out on winning a 25th major at Melbourne Park last month, those same pundits have learned over the last 15 years that counting out Djokovic is a risky bet.
Last year, Djokovic single-handedly carried the torch for the “Big Three” after Roger Federer’s retirement and during Rafa Nadal’s prolonged absence, battling through an injury to claim the Australian, French and U.S. Open titles.
Despite recent losses to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, Djokovic remains optimistic about his future in tennis, expressing confidence in his ability to perform well in upcoming tournaments, including the Grand Slams and the Olympics.
He labeled his recent setbacks as temporary deviations from his usual high standards rather than indicators of a permanent decline. Djokovic is scheduled to return in the Masters Tournament at Indian Wells next month, where he will again face the likes of Alcaraz, Sinner and Holger Rune.
Jeff Greenwald, a former player and sports psychology consultant, suggested that while it may be early to speak of a complete power shift, tennis fans are witnessing the emergence of a new generation. He emphasized that a key element in top-level sports, especially in individual sports like tennis, is the sense of invincibility that all great players experience at some point.
However, as the new generation gains confidence and experience, this once significant gap is closing.