“I think I had a good chance!” Novak Djokovic claims he had a better chance to win the Australian Open title over Rafael Nadal

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal

Novak Djokovic gave his opinion about his chances to win the title at the Australian Open if he was allowed to compete in it. In a recent interview with a Serbian media outlet RTS, he talked about his ordeal in Down Under and also about the Australia Open final.

Djokovic was the 3-time defending champion in Melbourne, but couldn’t defend his title after he was deported from Australia after he failed to satisfy the vaccination requirements necessary to enter the country. But had things gone the other way around, Djokovic reckoned he had a good chance to win the title.

“Nothing in life is guaranteed, but considering everything, I did like my chances in Australia this year. I feel like I’m in my backyard on Rod Laver Arena. Out of respect to Rafael Nadal who won and to all the other players, I don’t dare to say that I would’ve won, but I think I had a good chance,” he said.

After having a remarkable 2021 season, wherein he won 3 Grand Slam titles. The Serbian was in a prime position to win his 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and move ahead of the duo of Nadal and Federer in the race for most Slams. The World No.1 had a stellar record in the Melbourne Major, where lifted the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup a record 9 times. But this time around his title defense ended before it even started as he was deported from Australia just days before the tournament kicked off.

“Whoever won, I lost, right?” – Djokovic on the Australian Open finals

Djokovic also revealed he didn’t watch the final clash between Nadal and Medvedev as he exclaimed that he wanted to be on the court competing instead of watching it at home. The Spaniard won the match to lift his second Australian Open crown and his 21st Grand Slam title, to move one ahead of Djokovic.

Rafa reigns again ?#AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/Ia5JkrcafG
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2022

“It wasn’t easy for me to watch the finals, I had to because of the circumstances at home, although I didn’t want to watch it. My wife and my son were watching. I didn’t see the whole match, we did other things around the house as well. I was neutral – whoever won, I lost, right? (laughing). I didn’t want to be emotionally involved too much, I wanted to be on the court,” he said recalling the Australian Open final.

He is finally set to begin his 2022 season after missing the entirety of the Australian hard court season. Djokovic will return to action at the Dubai Tennis Championship, which begins next week. He enters the tournament as the top seed and will be looking to win his first title of the year to finally kick start his season.