"I like my chances": Djokovic is aiming for records for eternity

Superstar Novak Djokovic has little time to celebrate his victory at the Australian Open.

"I like my chances": Djokovic is aiming for records for eternity

Superstar Novak Djokovic has little time to celebrate his victory at the Australian Open. The Serbian top star is already aiming for the next goal: he also wants to leave Rafael Nadal behind. The tennis scene meanwhile bows to the "crazy".

The day after, Novak Djokovic sat in a meadow near Melbourne Park, patiently waiting for the backdrop to be built to showcase his "extraterrestrial" work. He had brought the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup with him to the traditional photo shoot, two oversized numbers rounded off the picture: 1 and 0. Djokovic has now celebrated ten triumphs at the Australian Open, and 22 in all four Grand Slam tournaments in total. The cameras were always clicking, he was always kissing a trophy, and the insatiable Serb always had his sights set on the next target. So also after the triumph in the final over the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.

"Of course I'm motivated to win as many slams as possible," said Djokovic: "Of course it's a privilege to be part of the discussion about the best player of all time." Anyone who knows Djokovic knows that he wants to end this discussion. After all the trials and tribulations of the past year, he is already back in his usual 1st place in the ranking.

He could now set a number of brands as his goal. Margaret Court's unrivaled 24 Grand Slams, followed by Serena Williams with 23. Djokovic now has one less in his letterhead, just like Steffi Graf and his permanent rival Rafael Nadal, who used Djokovic's absence in Australia for a coup last year . Roger Federer has won Grand 20 Slams and retired.

"He'll get to 28 - very easily," predicted Nick Kyrgios, the Australian had felt Djokovic's dominance in the 2022 Wimbledon final. "Please go back to your planet," pleaded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, number 32 in the world. "He's getting crazier," said Djokovic's coach Goran Ivanisevic: "In a positive way, I mean. The guy is incredible." Incredibly good and incredibly tough. Despite his hamstring problems, Djokovic only dropped one set in the entire tournament. "I feel great with my tennis," he said: "If I feel good physically and mentally and I'm in a good mood mentally, I have a chance of winning every slam. Against everyone. I like my chances."

Djokovic could write the next chapter in tennis history in May at the French Open in Paris - in the realm of the clay court ruler Nadal. Until then, he will give his body a break, because: "Of course 35 is not 25, even if I would like to convince myself that." And: The competition is strongest in Roland Garros, especially since Alexander Zverev (25) and US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz (19) will certainly not give up without a fight after their injuries.

But Djokovic plays in a different league when he is healthy. "I thought I'd seen everything, and then this comes," said Ivanisevic. "I'll probably see more." More photo shoots, more trophies, more records. Records for eternity