Djokovic is now 38 and has remained on 24 Grand Slam titles since September 2023. One more victory would move him ahead of Margaret Court and give him the outright record for major singles titles. One of the players standing in his way is 22 year old Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard has already won six major titles. A win in Melbourne would give him his first Australian Open crown and make him the youngest man to complete all four Grand Slams.
Unlike Alcaraz time is not on Djokovic’s side. That is why this final feels so important for Djokovic and why it could give him the extra motivation needed to reach the top once again. At the start of the season opening Grand Slam Djokovic said the tournament was not make or break for his hopes of reaching the milestone of 25 titles.
It seemed like an effort to ease the pressure and that approach has continued ahead of Sunday’s final.
When asked about what the match means for his career Djokovic said the final of a Grand Slam has a lot at stake but it is no different from any other big match he plays. Only Djokovic knows how much he truly believes that. What is clear is that as time continues to pass his chances of finally winning that long awaited 25th Grand Slam title become harder to achieve.
The Doubters Made Me Stronger
Melbourne Park has always felt like the place where Djokovic is most likely to break Court’s record because of his success there. He has already won a record 10 Australian Open titles and has claimed 104 wins from 114 matches on the faster hard courts. His outstanding quarter final win over Alcaraz last year will also serve as motivation.
There was nothing lucky about the way he wore down two time defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semi finals. It was classic Djokovic sharp intense and driven as he pulled off what almost everyone believed was impossible.
“I never stopped doubting. I never stopped believing in myself. There are a lot of people who doubt me,” Djokovic said.
“I see a lot of experts suddenly appearing who wanted to retire me or have tried to retire me many times over the past few years.
“I want to thank them because they gave me strength. They gave me motivation to prove them wrong.”
Defeating the 24 year old Sinner while facing questions about his age and fitness places this win among the finest of Djokovic’s remarkable career.
Following that with another victory over Alcaraz who has not yet reached the same level as Sinner in Melbourne would surely mark the greatest Grand Slam triumph of his career.
Alcaraz Ready to Make History
Since Alcaraz won the French Open in 2024 the question has been when not if he would complete the career Slam. Last year that dream was stopped in dramatic fashion by Djokovic who played through the pain of a torn hamstring and used his experience to out think Alcaraz in a gripping four set match.
Alcaraz was calm in defeat and did not show too much disappointment but he has returned to Melbourne with one clear goal in mind. When asked if he would choose completing the career Slam now even if it meant missing out on the other three majors this season Alcaraz said he would pick this one. He said he would rather win this than the other three so he could complete the Grand Slam and become the youngest player ever to do so. There is no doubt Alcaraz wants the title just as much as Djokovic.
The difference is that he does not need it in the same way because he is likely to have many more chances in the years ahead to achieve his goals.
