Sania Mirza would not agree in any respect with the notion that Novak Djokovic is in a tricky place – quite the opposite – the Indian tennis legend thinks the Serb will particularly now “be an issue” that the strain is off him.
After Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz completely dominated the Grand Slam scene in 2024, they’re thought of the 2 very high favorites for the Australian Open title.
Whereas Djokovic is a report 10-time champion at Melbourne Park, some doubt he can win the Australian Open or some other Grand Slam once more.
Nonetheless, sharing her ideas on the opening Main of the yr, Mirza highlighted that the 37-year-old remains to be somebody that you’d moderately keep away from in a Slam.
Additionally, the Indian – who received 5 Grand Slam titles throughout girls’s and combined doubles – predicted the Serb will keep in professional tennis for 2 extra years.
Mirza: Djokovic goes to be an issue for the title contenders
“It’s in all probability the final two couple of years that we’re going to look at him play. I feel to be very sincere, quite the opposite, it’s going to be an issue for the title contenders,” the previous doubles world No. 1 instructed The New Indian Categorical.
“No one desires to see Novak within the quarterfinal. They might moderately play him within the remaining. So, I feel he’s entering into with an important state of affairs the place the strain is off to him proper now.”
In the meantime, Djokovic drew rising star Nishesh Basavareddy within the Australian Open first spherical.
In his projected path, the Serb might additionally meet Alcaraz within the quarterfinal – Alexander Zverev within the semifinal – and Sinner within the remaining.
Final yr, the report 24-time Grand Slam champion made the semifinal at Melbourne Park earlier than dropping to the Italian.
If world No. 7 Djokovic wins this yr’s Australian Open, he’ll turn out to be the first-ever participant male or feminine with 25 Grand Slam titles to his identify
