SYDNEY, Jan 13, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Defending champion Novak Djokovic
insisted there are no clear favourites for the next week’s Australian Open
despite his ominous start to the season.
The world number two was in fine touch at the ATP Cup, leading Serbia to
victory over 23 other nations in the new men’s team event, overpowering Davis
Cup champions Spain in the final in the early hours of Monday.
His march included wins over dangerous Canadian Denis Shapovalov, world
number five Daniil Medvedev and his long-time rival, the top-ranked Rafael
Nadal.
Despite this, and Djokovic’s dominance at Melbourne Park, where he has won
the season-opening Grand Slam seven times since 2008, the Serb said there
were plenty of players capable of being crowned champion.
“Look, the last hardcourt Grand Slam was in New York, and Rafa won it,” he
said of the US Open final where Nadal edged Medvedev in five sets.
“So, you know, I think it’s really open, the Australian Open or any other
Slam.
“I don’t think there are really clear favourites. You have obviously
Federer, Nadal, myself because of the experience and everything and the
rankings that we get to be probably named the top three favourites.
“But then you have Medvedev, (Stefanos) Tsitsipas, Dominic Thiem that are
really showing some amazing tennis.”
Djokovic pointed to the season-ending ATP Finals in London where Tsitsipas
battled back from a set down to beat Thiem.
“They showed that they matured on the big stage, that they can challenge
the best players in the world and win against them,” he said.
“So everybody keeps on talking about NextGen player winning a Slam. You
know, it seems like it’s getting closer. Hopefully not this year. We’ll see.”
Djokovic enjoyed the ATP Cup hugely, a different start to how he usually
begins his season, revelling in the team spirit and the large Serbian crowd
support when he played in Brisbane and Sydney.
He called it the “perfect preparation” for a tilt at an eighth title at the
Australian Open, which starts on January 20.
“I didn’t know what to expect from the event. Obviously I didn’t know how
deep we would go and I was hoping we would pass the group stages and see how
it goes,” he said.
“But these kind of team competitions are really, truly special, and I’m
personally over the cloud with my emotions, and hopefully I can take that
positive energy and use it for Australian Open.”