Novak Djokovic is making ready for the primary main of the season. The Serbian will begin his quest for his a centesimal ATP title on the Australian Open, earlier than making an attempt to increase his grand slam report. Though for a lot of his numbers appear an unattainable determine, Djokovic believes that there’s somebody who can surpass his information: Carlos Alcaraz. “Individuals say that no one will ever break my information. However I doubt it. I imply, Carlos might be subsequent. Even Jannik. Carlos has accomplished one thing that no one has accomplished in historical past being so younger. So I believe he has each probability. I believe he’ll surpass him very quickly.”
This assertion is included within the interview that GQ journal performed with Djokovic for its February subject. In a report performed in Montenegro, the Serbian tennis participant opens up about his profession and points of his on a regular basis life.
Serena’s transformational victory
Novak clarifies his assertion about Alcaraz: “He himself has mentioned it, he desires to make historical past. He desires to be ‘the perfect in historical past’. I respect that type of mentality, like, ‘Hey, I believe I’ve what it takes’. However possibly it is a bit of early to consider historical past.”
I might prefer to have a drink or two with Nadal and Federer and brazenly discuss in regards to the issues that trouble them about me
Djokovic additionally has phrases for Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal: “It is a type of relationship with ups and downs, to be trustworthy. I all the time attempt to be respectful and pleasant with them off the court docket. However initially I did not have that acceptance, as a result of I went on the court docket saying and displaying that I used to be assured that I wished to win. And I do not suppose they appreciated that very a lot at first.”
“I want to have a drink or two with them and discuss brazenly in regards to the issues that trouble them about me,” he says, laughing, “or vice versa, no matter. Let’s get all of it on the market. And I believe I might like to study from them and perceive what they had been pondering, how they dealt with sure conditions on the court docket, how they dealt with the strain of the world after they had been on the prime.”
Nadal, the rival who has intimidated Djokovic essentially the most
The Serbian tennis participant is evident about what he felt when he needed to face Rafa Nadal: “Nadal was essentially the most intimidating, certainly. Roger additionally had an enormous aura, in fact. And earlier than enjoying towards him, you felt it. However he did it with extra grace, I suppose. I imply Nadal, as a result of all of us share locker rooms, so that you see the gamers warming up and stuff. Earlier than enjoying towards him, you already felt it… He desires to make his presence felt. You already know? Bodily. I am leaping. I am prepared for a battle. I’ll be bodily with you from the beginning. From the primary second, you are going to hear my growls. That is very intimidating for lots of gamers.”
I am not pro-vaccine. I am not anti-vaccine. I am in favour of the liberty to decide on what’s best for you and your physique
Each time it is time to play the Australian Open, Djokovic is questioned about his exclusion from the event in 2021 for not being vaccinated towards Covid: “It was one thing political. It really had nothing to do with the vaccine or Covid or something like that. It was simply political. The politicians could not stand me being there. I believe for them it was much less damaging to deport me than to maintain me there. I am not pro-vaccine. I am not anti-vaccine. I am in favour of freedom to decide on what’s best for you and your physique. So I do not suppose it is proper for somebody to disclaim me the suitable to decide on what I ought to or should not take for my physique.”
After Nadal’s retirement in 2024, Novak Djokovic additionally talks about when the day might come when he decides to hold up his racket: “I believe extra in regards to the how than the when. I do not suppose a lot in regards to the when but, however as for the how… I believe if I begin to lose extra, if overcoming the challenges that Grand Slams contain turns into increasingly of a problem, then I am going to in all probability name it a day. However proper now I am high-quality, we’ll proceed.”
