“He can always win every match,” Novak Djokovic receives stamp of validation from legend Rod Laver after his heartbreaking Australian Open run

The Aussie great has his belief in Nole to win more Majors despite his defeat in Melbourne Park this year.

“He can always win every match,” Novak Djokovic receives stamp of validation from legend Rod Laver after his heartbreaking Australian Open run

Rod Laver and Novak Djokovic (Credits: AP News)

The discussions around Novak Djokovic continue weeks after his exit from the 2024 Australian Open. Playing as the defending champion, he lost in the semi-finals to Jannik Sinner, the eventual winner of the Grand Slam event.

The performance from Nole was rather shocking given the high standards he has set and spoiled his fans with. It was however later revealed that he had been sick for nearly three weeks. As a result, he has opted to skip all events in February and return for the Sunshine Double directly.

YouTube video

With 24 Majors to his name, he has two more than Rafael Nadal, who is second on the list. Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka with their three Grand Slams share the third spot among active players. Following them is Carlos Alcaraz who has two Majors to his name.

FS Video

The list is then filled by the likes of Daniil Medvedev, Sinner, and Dominic Thiem who have won one Major each. Despite this massive gap, questions have been raised against Nole’s ability to still fight for the big titles.

But to the rescue of the King of Melbourne Park, Rod Laver has come himself. Just to remind the readers, the biggest court of Melbourne Park is named the Rod Laver Arena. The legendary Australian remains the only man and just the second player alongside Steffi Graf to have won the Calendar Slam in the Open Era.

Novak is an incredible champion. He constantly fuels his mental strength and motivation. Precisely for this reason and for all the successes he has achieved in his career it is expected that he can always win every match.
Said Laver speaking with Tennis World. 
In my opinion, Novak Djokovic will have learned something from this defeat. He will recover and come back stronger and more motivated once again.
Concluded the legendary Aussie.

Novak Djokovic’s close shave with matching Rod Laver’s record

Graf’s 1988 season remains a unique one in history. Apart from clinching all four singles Majors that year, she also won the Olympic Gold medal in singles, a feat repeated by none. To her advantage, 1988 was the first time in the Open Era that tennis was played in the Olympics. But since then, no one has matched the feat.

Novak Djokovic (L), Rod Laver (R)
Novak Djokovic (L), Rod Laver (R) (Sources: Sky Sports, Intercontinental Melbourne de Rialto)

Laver, also famous by his nickname ‘Rocket’, remains the only player in history to have won the Calendar Slam in both the Amateur and Open Era. He achieved the feat first in 1962 and then in 1969. He won a total of 11 Grand Slam singles titles during his career, six of which came in the Amateur Era.

Djokovic came very close to matching his Calendar Slam record but fell short at the final obstacle. During the 2021 season, Djokovic went 27-1 at the Grand Slams. At the Australian Open, he defeated Medvedev in straight-sets in the finals to win his ninth title at Melbourne Park.

He ousted Stefanos Tsitsipas in the French Open finals despite losing the first two sets. In the process, he became the first man to achieve the double Career Grand Slam (winning all four majors twice) matched only by Nadal after winning the 2022 AO.

At the 2021 Wimbledon, he was the two-time defending champ and retained his crown by defeating Matteo Berrettini in the finals despite losing the first set. On the verge of history at the US Open, he lost in the finals to Medvedev falling short at the final obstacle.

Many argue that had Nole avoided playing the Mixed Doubles in the Tokyo Olympics, he would have achieved the feat. In hopes of bringing glory to his nation, he signed up for singles and mixed doubles. But he lost in the Bronze medal match in singles and an injury that saw him forfeit the Bronze medal in mixed doubles.

Having lost the title in Australia this year, the Calendar Slam is off for the Serb this year. If he can achieve the feat in 2025 at the age of 37, will be a big question for his fans and critics.

In case you missed it: