Does Djokovic Still Have The Right Stuff To Win Another Australian Open?

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (photo: Florian Heer)

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, January 17, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

Novak Djokovic has won the Australian Open men’s singles title a record 10 times. So, when the 38-year-old Serbian great walks out on Rod Laver Arena Monday evening to face 71st-ranked Pedro Martinez of Spain in a first-round match to begin his 2026 campaign – his 21st appearance in Melbourne – in search of a record 25th major title, the current World No. 4 knows this: If Djokovic successful at lifting another Norman Brookes Challenger Cup in two weeks, he would become the oldest Grand Slam champion in the Open Era.

In all likelihood, Djokovic would have to beat two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy in the semifinals and turn right around to face current World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the title match. Does Djokovic still have all the right stuff to beat either, who have dominated the Grand Slam events the past two seasons? For that matter, can he also handle No. 27 seed Brandon Nakashima of the United States in the third round and No. 16 seed Jakub Mensik of Czechia in the fourth round?

During his pre-tournament media session on Saturday, Djokovic suggested there’s a chance. He just wants a shot. After all, he eliminated Alcaraz in the quarterfinal round in Melbourne last year but lost to Sinner in the semifinals of both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon. Then, he fell to Alcaraz in the semifinals at the US Open.

“I know that when I’m healthy, when I’m able to put all the pieces of the puzzle together on a given day, I feel like I can beat anybody. If I don’t have that self-belief and confidence in myself, I wouldn’t be sitting here and talking to you guys or competing,” Djokovic said.

“I understand that Sinner and Alcaraz are playing on a different level right now … but that doesn’t mean that nobody else has a chance. So I like my chances always, in any tournament, particularly here.”

Djokovic arrived in Melbourne this week without having played in any of the pre-Australian Open tune-ups the past two weeks. He withdrew from the Adelaide International after saying that his body wasn’t quite ready to return to tour-level competition. 

“I’m missing a little bit of juice in my legs, to be honest, to be able to compete with these guys at the later stages of a Grand Slam,” Djokovic admitted. “But I’m definitely giving my best as I have in ’25, and I think I have done very well and challenged them on their route to the title.

“I lost three out of four slams against either Sinner or Alcaraz. … We know how good they are, and they absolutely deserve to be where they are. They are the dominant forces of the men’s tennis at the moment. I’m still trying to be in the mix.”

What others said during Media Day …

“In the past couple of years, I haven’t played any official match before here because of the simple fact that I wanted to have a good off-season, a longer off-season, to get ready for this season again.”

– Two-time defending Australian Open men’s singles champion Jannik Sinner, on why he doesn’t play any tune-up events before the Australian Open.

“Even though I’ve been on this tour for a long time, this is also still my first experience as [defending champion]. I’m really just trying to soak in all of, like, the really cool fun parts, like walking in an seeing a picture of me holding the trophy. I could have never dreamed of that happening.”

– Madison Keys of the United States, on returning to Melbourne as the defending Australian Open women’s singles champion.

“I think this is my main goal for this year. I’m just hungry for the title, hungry to do a really good result here. … I’m really excited about the tournament begin[ning].”

– World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, looking to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam at this year’s Australian Open.

“That’s exactly how I’d want to play, and I’m playing the tennis I need to play.”

“At this point, I need to be kind to myself, because I’m getting so many things right, but, you know, there had been a lack of playing matches. So, you know, I’m playing well. I’m setting myself up each pint to win points and controlling the points. 

– Forty-five-year-old Venus Williams of the United States, on preparing for this year’s Australian Open.

“I don’t compare generations … I enjoy watching them. I enjoyed playing them, too. I see that as a fan of tennis in general. The level has been amazing to watch those 20 years with different generations. As a competitor, it’s been amazing to face them. Always a big challenge.”

– Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland, who won the Australian Open men’s singles title in 2014, on competing against the Big Three – Federer, Nadal, Djokovic – as well as the current Big Two in Alcaraz and Sinner.

“That final was a tough one. She played incredible and overplayed me. Took me a little time to recover. Going into this AO, I’m not really focusing on that last year result. But of course, I would like to do just a little better than I did last year.”

– World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, looking back at her three-set loss to Madison Keys in last year’s Australian Open women’s singles title match. 

Around the Australian Open

• Cumulative attendance for the Opening Week at the Australian Open, which included qualifying draw play, open workouts, the 1-Point Slam and Saturday’s Opening Night festivities featuring Roger Federer, reached 217,999. This is an Opening Week attendance record – shattering last year’s record of 116,528 by more than 100,000.

• Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, who was scheduled to play World No. 6 Alex de Minaur of Australia in Monday afternoon’s opening round, has pulled out of the Australian Open citing an oblique injury. He was replaced by lucky loser Mackenzie McDonald of the United States.

Sunday’s Australian Open order of play

Monday’s Australian Open order of play

By the numbers

Venus Williams, 45, who received a wild card for this year’s Australian Open, is making her 22nd main draw appearance in Melbourne. She faces Olga Danilovic of Serbia on John Cain Arena in the first round on Sunday evening.

“Quotable …”

“It’s a Grand Slam and every Grand Slam you want to perform and do your best, and you want to take advantage of the moment now because tomorrow isn’t promised.”

– World No. 3 Coco Gauff of the United States, who is going after her first Australian Open title and third major overall.

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