The Third edit: Your serve, Australian Open

Jan 14, 2025 07:14 IST First published on: Jan 14, 2025 at 07:13 IST

A new Grand Slam season brings with it new storylines. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have sailed into the sunset, leaving Novak Djokovic to fly the flag of arguably the greatest generation of players that men’s tennis has seen. With 24 Grand Slam titles and the Olympic gold — the only achievement that eluded the greatest resume in men’s tennis history — in the bag, Djokovic has arrived at his favourite Major after enduring one of his most disappointing seasons; the Olympics aside, he failed to win a title. The rivals against whom he built his legacy have stepped aside. He is at the Australian Open: A venue where the GOAT won 10 titles but the anti-vaxxer in him faced the trauma of detention and eviction. He is up against rivals — Sinner 23, and Alcaraz, 21 — who are closer in age to his children than him, who have established themselves. But the Serb’s determination to make more history can never be discounted.

With his success across three decades, on all surfaces, Djokovic has established himself as the best of the previous generation. But a few months away from his 38th birthday, he is now attempting to match Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the most dominant forces in the game now. Towards that end, Djokovic is seeking new ideas to unlock the drive that has powered him to success in the past and, in a first-of-its-kind partnership, even hired former rival Andy Murray as coach.