Novak Djokovic has dominated the Australian Open for years. But this time he will be absent when the winner is decided. A sign?
It’s an unusual feeling for Novak Djokovic. Normally, the Serb always spends the last Sunday of the Australian Open in Melbourne. The world number one has already won the first Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season ten times.
But when the champion is crowned today in the Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic will be long since at home. Instead, Italian Jannik Sinner, who defeated Djokovic in the semi-finals, and Alexander Zverev’s opponent Daniil Medvedev from Russia will be battling it out for the first major title of the year.
“It’s not the feeling I’m used to. It felt incredibly satisfying to start most seasons with a Grand Slam win,” Djokovic said after his first defeat on the Yarra River after 33 wins in a row.
However, the 24-time Grand Slam tournament winner has no intention of changing the guard. “The tournament didn’t meet my standard, my criteria and my level, but that doesn’t automatically mean it’s the beginning of the end,” said the 36-year-old. “Let’s wait and see what happens for the rest of the season. I still have high goals as far as the Olympics and the next Grand Slams are concerned.” The next Grand Slam tournament begins on May 26 in Paris
