How Djokovic Handles Newcomers

After winning a tournament in 2024 and securing an Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games, former world number one Novak Djokovic has announced that he, with the support of his new coach Andy Murray, plans to take on the new generation of tennis players entering the sport.

Facing Young Tennis Talents Like Jannik Sinner and Others

Djokovic stated that while there’s nothing too extreme about his plans, they are enough to give him a chance to compete with young rising stars like Jannik Sinner, the 23-year-old top-ranked player who won both the Australian Open and US Open last year, and the 21-year-old who has won two other Grand Slam titles, Wimbledon and the French Open.

Djokovic’s Strategy for the Upcoming Season and His ATP 100 Title Quest

At 37 years old, Djokovic mentioned that after his first-round win at Brisbane International, he will spend the following days, starting January 12, analyzing videos with Murray about his younger opponents. Currently ranked seventh, Djokovic’s pursuit of his 100th ATP title begins with a match against Australian player Rinky Hijikata, who defeated him 6-3, 6-3. A win in Melbourne would set the perfect stage for Djokovic’s 25th Grand Slam singles title, a record-breaking achievement.

Minor Adjustments to Improve His Play

Djokovic emphasized that he would take advantage of his second meeting with Murray, a former rival turned coach, to make small adjustments to his game.

“I don’t want to change my playing style entirely… I won’t become Giovanni (rising French star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 21 years old), performing two first serves and charging the net. But I certainly want to improve, even the smallest percentage, every shot I make in my match. And what people might not necessarily see is positioning on the court, transition play, tactics.”

Preparation and Focus for the Australian Open

He also expressed his readiness to dedicate time to training: “Physically and mentally, I’m ready to compete, regardless of what happens, regardless of the time spent on younger players,” Djokovic shared. “One week before the Australian Open, we’ll analyze a lot of videos of my main opponents, the best players, trying to understand how my game compares.”

Andy Murray’s Skiing Break and Responses

Meanwhile, Murray is currently skiing with his family. Djokovic joked, “Sending my love to the entire Murray family. I hope he doesn’t get injured skiing before heading to Melbourne.”

With his usual self-critical style, Murray couldn’t resist responding with a video on X, saying, “I’m facing some big slopes, as you can see, but there are no injuries yet.” However, these “big slopes” appeared more like beginner hills for bunnies.