Novak Djokovic will go into the Australian Open 2016, which starts January 18th, as the heavy favorite. The Tennis Review gives you three reasons why.
1. He has the record for most Australian Open titles in the Open Era (five titles- 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015).
Djokovic won his first slam at the Australian Open 2008 as a 20 year old, defeating then dominant world No.1 Roger Federer along the way. The Serbian has won four more titles since then (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015).
Some of the wins Djokovic has had on those title runs will go down as the greatest in Slam history such as his 2012 5 hr 53 min final defeat of Rafael Nadal and his 2013 fourth round battle versus Stan Wawrinka.
Only Rafael Nadal (2009), Roger Federer (2010) and Stan Wawrinka (2014) have managed to win titles during Djokovic’s dominance.
In the years Djokovic did not win, he retired injured versus Andy Roddick in ’09, was beaten in five by former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in ’10, and was just bettered in an epic fifth set 9-7 by Stan Wawrinka in ’14.
While being dominant at a slam does not mean you are going to keep winning it, the game’s greats tend to have dominated one, or even two, slams in their primes. Roger Federer dominated Wimbledon (seven titles from 2003-2012), Rafael Nadal has been king at the French winning nine titles in eleven years, and Sampras ruled at Wimbledon (seven titles from 1993-2000).
With Djokovic holding ten slams aged only 28, and with a tennis pro’s career going on into their mid 30s, his place in the top tier greats looks assured, and with his dominance looking to be far from over, it seems only natural that he will continue to display all the reasons for his reign- his aggressive baseline skills, his solid and smart serve, especially on that all important second delivery, his much improved net game, and his all time great return of serve- at his most prolific slam.
Watch Djokovic winning what many believe to be the greatest Australian Open final ever against Rafael Nadal in 2012 in the video below.
2. Djokovic is perhaps the most dominant No.1 ever.
Right now, with 16, 790 points, (12 titles including WTF, 3 slams, 6 ATP 1000s) on his No.1 ranking, Djokovic has the record for most points while at No.1 and has nearly as many points as the world No.2 (Andy Murray) and no.3 (Roger Federer) combined (17, 110).
Considering that just over 13 months ago Djokovic was being chased by Federer for the top ranking after just taking the top spot from Rafael Nadal with his Wimbledon win, Djokovic has gotten stronger the last 18 months and may be at the top of his game right now.
While the only way may be down, taking into his account his good health and smart scheduling, it is hard to see his fall from the top happening anytime soon, or his grip on the Australian Open title loosening.
3. Djokovic is in great form.
Especially when you look at his recent form- only last week Djokovic pummelled Rafael Nadal 6-1, 6-2 in the Doha final, hitting 30 winners in 15 games. Doha may not be the best conditions for Nadal, but he made the final and as world No.5 and a former Doha champion (2014), was expected to do better than winning 3 games.
Djokovic was in no mood to entertain a Nadal battle and in the manner we have come to expect of him these past 14 months, the Serbian, despite not looking that great in the run up to the final, saved his best till last.
That best, according to Nadal after the match, was better than the Spaniard had ever seen anyone play against him.
That best is what Djokovic will bring with him into this season’s Australian Open. A best that will be almost impossible to better.
What do you think about Djokovic’s chances at the Australian Open?
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