Novak Djokovic has a lot at stake ahead of his match against Grigor Dimitrov at the 2023 Australian Open

Novak Djokovic takes on Grigor Dimitrov in the third round of the 2023 Australian Open and lot of things are up for grabs for the Serb.

Novak Djokovic has a lot at stake ahead of his match against Grigor Dimitrov at the 2023 Australian Open

Novak Djokovic - IMAGO / Shutterstock

Novak Djokovic is possibly one of the happiest men in Australia right now. The 21-time Grand Slam title winner is in the third round of his favorite hunting ground. With other top seeds faltering, there are only two other players left at the 2023 Australian Open who have played in a Grand Slam final.

Andy Murray (11) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (1) are the only ones left to have played a Grand Slam final. While it’s not the Serb’s mistake that others dropped off, things are certainly going his way as life comes full circle after last year’s deportation fiasco.

One might even say that the only obstacle Djokovic currently has is his hamstring injury. Playing at the Adelaide 1 in preparations for the Major, the Serb had his hamstring acting up. Since then, he has been working on nursing it but the relief isn’t great. He admitted after his second-round win that things have only gotten worse.

He jokingly said he has left everything in his physios and God’s hands. Nole has been playing with a strapping. His movement is noticeably different that can be made out even by an average Joe. The former World No. 1 even left the court for some time to receive treatment during his match against Enzo Couacaud giving a scare to his fans.

Related: “Handled this as well as he could have,” Andy Roddick lauds Novak Djokovic for acting calm amidst the crowd’s provocation at 2023 Australian Open

Records Novak Djokovic can achieve in the coming week

Novak Djokovic - IMAGO / AAP
Novak Djokovic returns to the Australian Open – IMAGO / AAP

Waiting for Novak Djokovic in the third round is Bulgarian hero Grigor Dimitrov. The former World No. 3 is yet to reach a Major final but is not an easy opponent. The ‘Baby Federer‘ won two Junior Grand Slam titles and the 2017 ATP Finals. With a weakened field and injured Djokovic, he might fancy his chances.

For Djokovic however, the mentality will be different. With Rafael Nadal only one Grand Slam title ahead, this is a good chance to level the field. Apart from equalling the record for most Majors, there are a few more feats that the Serb can achieve should he beat the Bulgarian.

  • Novak Djokovic can reach the fourth round of the Australian Open for the 15th time. This would take him at par with Rafael Nadal who also has 15 appearances in the Round of 16. Roger Federer leads the chart with 18 appearances in the pre-quarterfinal round.
  • The 21-time Grand Slam title winner can reach the fourth round at a Grand Slam event for the 59th time. He is second on the list with only Federer (69 appearances) ahead of him.
  • The Serbian is currently on a 23-match winning streak at the Australian Open, his second-best and third-best overall at Melbourne Park. He had recorded 25 consecutive wins from the 2011 Australian Open to his defeat in the quarter-finals of the 2014 Australian Open to Stan Wawrinka. Andre Agassi has the best-ever streak with 26 wins from 2000 to the semi-finals of the 2004 Open.

A 10th title in Melbourne Park for Djokovic could further add pages to the history books.

  • The 10th title in Melbourne Park this year could make him the second man and the third player to record 10 titles at a single Grand Slam event. Nadal with his 14 French Open titles and Margaret Court with her 11 Australian Open (Amateur and Open Era combined) are the only other two players to achieve the feat.
  • This year’s title could make Djokovic the only player to win four Australian Open titles since turning 30. The 35-year-old Serb’s hattrick of titles from 2019 to 2021 earned him the record which can be extended this year.
  • So far, Djokovic has won nine Grand Slam titles since turning 30. The second-best tally is of Nadal who has won eight Major since turning 30. The title in Australia could give Djokovic his record-extending 10th Grand Slam title since celebrating his 30th birthday.
  • By winning the Australian Open this year, Nole will become the World No. 1 yet again starting his 374th week at the top. Only Steffi Graf wit her 374 weeks has had a longer stay at the top than the Serbian great.

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