Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic is convinced that, in 2021, his bid to become the most successful player of all time will start on a firm footing.
The 33-year-old does have some catching up to do, which he believes will require careful planning and plenty of thought in the year to come. “I have to be a bit more strategic from next season with creating my calendar. Which tournaments I want to prioritise and where I want to peak,” Djokovic explained in an interview with the Evening Standard.
Although he started 2020 in exceptional fashion by winning the Australian Open for a record-setting 8th time, the year itself could arguably be seen as a missed opportunity for Djokovic. The 2020 Wimbledon tournament was cancelled and then he was disqualified from the US Open after hitting a line judge with a stray ball, following a tempestuous moment of madness.
Despite reaching the French Open final at Roland-Garros in Paris, few can argue with the fact that Djokovic was comprehensively beaten by Rafael Nadal, as the Spaniard continued his dominance of the tournament on clay. “I was just outplayed and so it’s not difficult to move on,” admits Djokovic, openly accepting that he couldn’t match his rival during that encounter.
Making that victory at the French Open all the more significant, 34-year-old Nadal claimed the 20th Grand Slam title of his phenomenal tennis career, drawing level with 39-year-old Swiss icon Roger Federer. Meanwhile, Djokovic remains three Grand Slam titles behind and, although slightly younger, he remains conscious that time is catching up on his career.
Looking ahead, that’s why Djokovic realises that to match and surpass the benchmark set by those two tennis greats, he must be prudent with his upcoming tournament appearances, placing more emphasis on the Grand Slam events. This will require meticulous planning and preparation ahead of each tournament.
Djokovic will start the 2021 season at his favourite venue on the ATP schedule. As the 11/10 tennis betting favourite to win the 2021 Australian Open, Djokovic will also be aiming for an impressive third consecutive tournament victory in Melbourne, a feat he previously accomplished three years running between 2011 and 2013.
Of course, the Australian Open is an event with great significance for all three of the best players in world tennis. Melbourne is the location where Federer has won the title six times, including his 20th career Grand Slam in 2018. Meanwhile, the courts in Australia haven’t been an entirely happy hunting ground for Nadal, with just the one tournament win there in 2009.
As for Djokovic, the Australian Open brought him the first Grand Slam title of his career back in 2008, setting him firmly on the right path to jostle alongside both Federer and Nadal, as this magnificent trio of players continues to compete for the biggest prizes in men’s tennis. The year ahead promises more excitement as these three living legends continue their outstanding rivalries.
