“Getting better at 35,” Brad Gilbert explains how Novak Djokovic will continue to dominate the entire 2023 season against others
Since the Serb's Australian Open triumph last month, there has been a lot of speculation about what he will do next.
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Novak Djokovic, Brad Gilbert
Brad Gilbert, professional tennis player turned coach, has given his opinion about Novak Djokovic’s chances of winning more Grand Slam titles this season. The former world No. 4 believes that in the rest of the season, the battle will definitely be against Djokovic on one side and the rest of the players on the other.
The Serbian icon just clinched the 2023 Australian Open title last month. It was his record-extending 10th title triumph Down Under. The victory in Melbourne Park also brought him to level with his archrival Rafael Nadal in total Grand Slam titles, with 22 each. Since then, there has been a lot of speculation about what the 35-year-old will do next as the season progresses.
While Gilbert did not provide any number, he remains bullish on the prospects of Djokovic. Especially when Nadal is facing the injury challenge and the gen-next is ready to make a mark now.
“I think that it is definitely going to be Djoker v everyone else this year,” Gilbert said on the Holding Court with Patrick McEnroe podcast. “If I had to set an over-under, I would say two-and-a-half Slams for him. He is getting better at 35,” he added citing the dominant form of the Serb. With the title in Australia, Djokovic has returned to the top of the rankings and the rest of the players will definitely give their best to dethrone him in the coming tournaments.
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The younger generation is ready to give some challenges to Djokovic, Gilbert believes
Gilbert also shed some light on the changed landscape following the arrival of younger ones like Spanish Carlos Alcaraz in the scene and what that means for Djokovic and for the game overall. “I think before, it was all about Rafa and Federer for him, they are measuring and making their improvements to them. The ‘Big 3’ pushed each other,” Gilbert explained.
“But now, Djoker, I believe, has gone to another elevation where he is making these adjustments in his game to face Tsitsipas and Alcaraz and similar players, to all the young players that are pushing him. That is probably in some sense going to add time to his game.”
The 61-year-old along with the host John McEnroe agrees with the fact that Djokovic shares various similarities with the former legends of the game. “I really believe that if you put Andre Agassi and Ivan Lendl in the blender, you get Novak Djokovic,” Gilbert said. To which McEnroe added, “The only difference is that Djokovic is lightening fast. Both those guys, Agassi and Lendl, were quick and could cover the court, they weren’t lightening fast and as quick as Novak.”
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Abhinavendu Singh
(290 Articles Published)