After being ridiculed in 2022, the Serbian star headlines a field missing many marquee names
After struggling through the first hour of his final Australian Open tune-up last weekend, Novak Djokovic decided to pitch a fit.
“I would like to thank my team for handling me, tolerating me in the good and bad times. Today, I’m sure they didn’t have such a blast,” Djokovic said. “My brother, Marko, is also here. I don’t see him that much. I appreciate you coming here, Maré. Love you.” Through his long career, we’ve seen all sorts of Djokovics. Goofy Djokovic, steely Djokovic, stentorian Djokovic, disconsolate Djokovic, resurgent Djokovic, resplendent Djokovic and snake-oil salesman Djokovic. At 35, this is a whole new Djokovic – heel-turn Djokovic.
That sort of humiliation can change your outlook. Now that he’s had a few months to think about it, maybe it’s changed Djokovic.There are other stories at the Australian Open, which starts on Sunday. But none of those work as the elevator pitch for a Sergio Leone film.Carlos Alcaraz, 19, had just won a remarkable U.S. Open. He played about a hundred sets in seven matches, and seemed to become his best after midnight local time. Alcaraz has many winning attributes.
But once it starts, it’s about new beginnings. On the men’s side, this means finally trying to get the two remaining olds off their perch. Rafael Nadal hasn’t won a major in –– 36 years old. Denis Shapovalov, whose form can tip over for good or ill in the space of a single set, lost in the quarters at Adelaide to Djokovic. Of all the Canadians, he looks the sharpest on his way to Melbourne.
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