“Far from his best” Patrick Mouratoglou casts doubt on Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open chances
The coach of Simona Halep has expressed his doubts on Novak Djokovic's 'favorite' tag at the Australian Open
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Novak Djokovic and Patrick Mouratoglou
Legendary French tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou has praised 21-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic’s unbelievable record in Australia but says that he still looks far from his usual level. Mouratoglou is unsure how Djokovic would perform in Melbourne at the 2023 Australian Open. He believes the emotional state of the Serbian will influence the level of his performances at the Rod Laver Arena.
Novak Djokovic recently won his first title of 2023 at the Adelaide International. It was his first time back in Australia after last year’s deportation drama. Fans warmly welcomed him as he won the tournament, only dropping a set in the final. But the tournament was not without problems. The world No. 5 picked up a hamstring strain in the semifinals, which required a medical timeout. The impact of that was seen in the finals, as Djokovic lost the first set before rallying for a brilliant comeback win.
Mouratoglou marveled at the Serbian’s prowess but pointed out that he didn’t play his best tennis. “Novak has won a tournament again, just like that. It sounds amazing, even more considering that was his 34th consecutive win in Australia since 2018. But he is still far from his best level,” Mouratoglou said.
He acknowledged the brilliant support for Djokovic by the admiring Australian crowd, but believes another factor will contribute to his performance. “Despite incredible support from the crowd, his level of play is linked with being a very emotional situation, him going back to Australia after what happened last year. How will he feel once in Melbourne, we will see.” Mouratoglou stated. Djokovic has previously said that deportation from Australia and his subsequent characterization as a troublemaker was the most challenging period of his life.
Novak Djokovic will be looking to push through the emotions and perform well at the Australian Open. The Serbian is the most successful player at the Slam, with nine titles to his name. He is looking to add to his collection and become the first player to win ten Australian Open titles. But first, he will have to face some tricky opponents to give himself a shot at glory.
Related: John McEnroe salutes Novak Djokovic for standing by his principles despite insulting deportation
Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open 2023 draw
Djokovic finds himself in the same quarter of the draw as his friend Nick Kyrgios. The pair last played a competitive match against each other in the 2022 Wimbledon final. The Australian will be keen to get revenge if he makes it to the quarterfinals, where he is slated to face Djokovic.
Djokovic starts his campaign against Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain in the first round. Djokovic will be confident for that match, having come out of top the only time they faced off. The highest-ranked players on his side of the draw are Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz, whom he could play in the semifinals.
If Djokovic can navigate these challenges and get to the final, we may get the chance to witness the 19th Grand Slam final between Rafael Nadal and him. There is also the possibility of a repeat of the 2021 Australian Open final if Daniil Medvedev reaches the final. Novak hopes to navigate this draw and will have the cheers of an adoring crowd for motivation.
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Samarth Srivastava
(139 Articles Published)