Novak Djokovic, the top seed and 10-time champion, showcased his impeccable form during his recent victory over Argentine Francisco Etcheverry at the Australian Open. The Serbian maestro secured a convincing 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) win, setting the stage for his pursuit of a historic 25th Grand Slam title, which would surpass the legendary Margaret Court’s all-time record.
Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic expressed satisfaction, stating, “It was the best performance I’ve had during this tournament.” This statement carries significant weight given Djokovic’s remarkable track record in Melbourne, where he has now won an impressive 92 out of 100 matches.
The 36-year-old, who is on the brink of making history, is the first man to achieve the milestone of playing 100 matches at all four Grand Slam events. Djokovic has logged 108 matches at the French Open, 103 at Wimbledon, and 101 at the US Open, further solidifying his place as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Despite initial distractions and confrontations in his earlier matches, Djokovic exhibited clinical precision against Etcheverry, a player who had previously defeated the likes of Andy Murray and Gael Monfils in the tournament. The Serbian maestro’s dominance was evident as he lost merely four points on serve and never faced a break point throughout the match.
In the post-match interview, Djokovic shared insights into his approach, revealing a less serious side to his on-court demeanor. “In matches, I used to be really, really serious, which I still am, obviously,” he explained. “But sometimes you have to smile, you have to laugh a little bit, because it’s also important and it changes your attitude on the court. I think in a positive way.”
This revelation sheds light on the mental aspect of Djokovic’s game, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive and light-hearted attitude during intense competitions. While acknowledging the gravity of the sport, Djokovic advocates for injecting moments of joy and humor into the game, recognizing the transformative impact it can have on one’s mindset.
As Djokovic advances to the next round to face France’s Adrian Mannarino, his strategic combination of skill, focus, and a newfound appreciation for moments of levity could prove to be the winning formula. The pursuit of history continues for Djokovic, and his smile may just be the secret weapon that propels him to Grand Slam glory once again.
Djokovic at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2024
LWWWWWWWWL Now the world no.1, the Serbian owns a composed 5-1 record in 2024. Novak is currently playing at the Australian Open where he overcame the world no.187 Dino Prizmic 6-2 6-75 6-3 6-4, the world no.43 Alexei Popyrin 6-3 4-6 7-64 6-3 and the world no.32 Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3 6-3 7-62.
Novak Djokovic will compete against the world no.19 Adrian Mannarino in the 4th round on Sunday at 1:30 pm on Rod Laver Arena. Their record is 4-0 for Djokovic.
Djokovic won 98 titles in his career: 52 on hard courts, 19 on clay courts, 19 on indoor courts and 8 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
He is also scheduled to play at the Wimbledon (Wimbledon) on the 1st of July and U.S. Open (U.S. Open) on the 26th of August.
Novak Djokovic |
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