EXCLUSIVE The real threat looming large for record-breaking Novak Djokovic
The next generation of tennis stars are looming large in Novak Djokovic’s rearview mirror.
Despite nearly two decades passing since he played in his first grand slam tournament, the Serbian tennis star is in the prime of his life.
Only Carlos Alcaraz stopped Djokovic from winning all four grand slams in 2023.
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It marked the fourth season in which the 36-year-old has come agonisingly close to a clean sweep.
This year, the young Spaniard won Wimbledon while Djokovic prevailed at the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, and the US Open.
Roger Federer has retired, Andy Murray is edging closer towards calling it quits, and injuries continue to cast doubt over Rafael Nadal, but Djokovic is enjoying a purple patch.
There will come a time when momentum shifts though.
Former tennis pro and coach Wally Masur reckons that may come soon, with Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner leading the charge.
“You have to think that there’s a scale and the scale tips with every year — one slight injury, little loss of form,” Masur told Wide World of Sports.
“You mentioned Alcaraz, I think you’ve got to put Jannik Sinner in the same category. He beat Djokovic twice at the back end of 2023 in a couple of weeks in big events. Sinner and Alcaraz are probably the two most likely players at this stage to topple him.
“Beating him (Djokovic) over five sets seems to be a problem. That seems very difficult to do because you’ve basically got to play your best tennis for three plus hours and that’s where he’s tremendously hard to beat in the slams.
“Alcaraz and Sinner are getting better with every year. Novak has this amazing ability just to play at this high level over the course of his career and there’s no signs of him slowing up.
“I probably say he goes into the Australian Open as favourite, given the five set format but I think every day Alcaraz and Sinner are improving and I think they’re coming.
“I see them as the sort of the heir apparent, just because of the quality of their ground shots, they’re good athletes, they’ve got easy power,” he added.
“Alcaraz in particular is developing an incredibly good net game, good transitional game. Sinner is starting to work on that too.
“Everything’s just going in a good direction for those two players.”
Alcaraz is already a two-time grand slam winner at the age of 20 while Sinner is still yet to make a final.
His best run was to the semi-final at Wimbledon where he was beaten in straight sets by Djokovic.
Sinner has shown he’s capable. At this year’s Davis Cup, he defeated Djokovic in the semi-final. At 22 years old, there’s still room for improvement.
For now, all eyes are on Alcaraz. The prodigious talent has been likened to Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer and something of a complete package encapsulating all three.
Alcaraz is 16 years Djokovic’s junior. Still, Masur isn’t confident that title gap will ever be bridged.
“When I watch (Bjorn) Borg, when he’s 11 and then (Pete) Sampras on 13, I’m going, ‘Well, that’s the benchmark, no one will beat that’ and then in one generation three players get 20 plus. I’m like, ‘How is that possible? How is that even possible?’,” Masur explained.
‘”No one got a look in. Andy (Murray) and Stan Wawrinka got a little look in here and there. It was just incredible. So the idea that someone can get more than Novak, I’m gonna say no way. Maybe he’ll prove me wrong if he stays fit.”
On the comparisons between Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer, Masur explained the logic behind it.
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“I think what Novak was alluding to … Novak and Rafa were just so incredible from the back of the court and of course Roger had this all-court game, but he was such a good server and he was so good from the back. He didn’t always explore his net game, maybe to his detriment on some occasions, but he obviously had this brilliant record,” said Masur.
“Here we have Alcaraz who seems willing to turn attack from defence, really quickly looks for opportunities to come in, shorten the points, will serve and volley playing this all-court game. So the power and the consistency from the back of the court, the great movement, the great defence and then bringing in the net game – that’s what Novak’s talking about pulling it all together.”
Djokovic gets his summer of tennis underway in earnest at the United Cup, which is live, ad-free and on-demand via Stan Sport.
