Novak Djokovic will return to the Australian Open in January as a major threat, ready to compete for Grand Slam glory despite an uncharacteristically underwhelming 2024 season, says world number three Carlos Alcaraz.
After a dominant 2023 where Djokovic clinched three Grand Slam titles, the 24-time major winner faced a rare slump this year, failing to secure any major titles for the first time since 2017.
Despite this, Djokovic reminded fans of his resilience by winning his first Olympic gold medal in Paris, defeating Alcaraz in the final just weeks after their Wimbledon showdown.
“A really dangerous player,” Alcaraz said during the ATP Finals in Turin. “We’ve seen before that it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play an official match for two, three, four months because he’s going to come again and be able to win the tournament, be able to show a really high level of tennis.”
Alcaraz believes Djokovic will arrive in Melbourne rejuvenated and motivated to claim a record-extending 11th Australian Open title when the first Grand Slam of 2025 kicks off on January 12.
“If he goes to Australia hungry, he’s going to be one of the favourites to win Australia,” Alcaraz added.
Djokovic withdrew from the ATP Finals due to injury, but Alcaraz expects the Serbian legend to use the time off wisely, focusing on recovery and preparation.
“He’s going to be fresh, for sure. A lot of time with his family,” Alcaraz noted. “He’s had time to practice a lot, which is pretty good for a tennis player coming to a tournament with motivations.
“It’s going to be fun to watch, for sure.”
While Djokovic sets his sights on a historic triumph, Alcaraz will be chasing his own milestone, aiming for a maiden Australian Open crown. Both players are poised to bring their best to Melbourne Park, setting the stage for an electrifying start to the 2025 tennis season.
