For a long time, the days leading up to Wimbledon were all about Roger Federer, the same way the build up to Roland Garros was and remains to be all about Rafael Nadal.
As the Australian Open comes alive today, Novak Djokovic has emerged as the main protagonist Down Under as he bids to make history with a record-breaking fourth consecutive title run in Melbourne Park.
The Serb would also become the first player in the Open Era to win a fifth Australian Open trophy, breaking the record he currently shares with Federer and Andre Agassi.
Despite Djokovic’s recent heroics over the past few years, reaching No1 in the world, winning six majors – including an unprecedented three in-a-row in Melbourne – most people still define this era as that of Federer and Nadal.
The former is regarded as the greatest of all time – with his record 17 Slams, most weeks at No1, and record-equalling seven Wimbledons – and the latter is not far behind – with 13 majors, unmatched eight French Opens, and the general perception that he is the sport’s ultimate competitor, whose mental strength is unrivalled.
Should Djokovic win in Melbourne, the world No2 has a chance to carve a bigger space for himself alongside Federer and Nadal and create a legacy at the Australian Open that will live on long after he’s done with tennis.
Standing alone as the only player to have won five Australian Open men’s singles titles in the Open Era would do wonders for Djokovic’s confidence moving forward, and could go a long way in convincing people that the 26-year-old is a worthy candidate in the Federer- Nadal conversation.
It would be interesting to see how the official tournament debut of Djokovic and his new coach Boris Becker will pan out in Australia.The top players are obsessive about their routine in competitions, particularly Grand Slams, and after having Marian Vajda by his side for the past eight years, Djokovic hiring Becker as his head coach is quite a drastic change.
The Serb admits that any major change comes with its own risks, but he says he’s trying not to focus on that.
Djokovic has a favorable draw and an impeccable record in Melbourne. If for any reason things don’t go his way, it could very well be the end of this new partnership.
Another player unveiling a new coach is Federer, who will have Stefan Edberg in his corner for the first time at a tournament this week. With a new racquet, a new coach, slightly quicker conditions, and a daunting draw, a good run from the Swiss would be exciting to see.
However, getting past the likes of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the fourth round, Andy Murray in the quarters, Nadal in the semis and Djokovic in the final remains a tall order for someone who just lost to Lleyton Hewitt in Brisbane.
