Novak Djokovic has conquered Australian Open like no one else, yet affection has always eluded him. As the SinCaraz era tightens its grip on men’s tennis, the former champion returns not just chasing a historic 25th Grand Slam, but determined to once again defy age, trends and the crowd.
Novak Djokovic has won 10 Australian Open titles, more than anyone else in history. Yet, for reasons that go beyond numbers, the 38-year-old remains far from being a fans’ favourite at the iconic Melbourne Park. The lack of affection for the venue’s greatest-ever conqueror was evident once again on Thursday, when a spectator tried to mock the 24-time Grand Slam champion by shouting
Roger Federer’s name at him during an exhibition game.
Like a true statesman, Djokovic handled the heckling in his own inimitable style, imitating Federer’s trademark laugh as if it were the Swiss maestro on court against American Frances Tiafoe.
“Let’s go, Roger!”
Novak Djokovic found the funny side to this heckle from the crowd 😅 pic.twitter.com/hG5bmaM5nx
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) January 15, 2026
The moment once again underlined one of tennis’ most uncomfortable truths — Djokovic has more Grand Slam titles than Federer and Rafael Nadal, yet the retired duo remain well ahead of him in the popularity race.
That also explains why, despite holding a superior head-to-head record against both, Djokovic has often struggled to establish himself as the undisputed GOAT in the public imagination. But numbers cannot be ignored forever — not if Djokovic reaches the elusive 25th Grand Slam title.
Djokovic has never been bound by trend and tradition
No player, man or woman, has ever won 25 Grand Slam singles titles. Djokovic is currently tied with Margaret Court, and a triumph at the “Happy Slam” in January would change tennis history forever.
The jibes from the crowd would sting less, or they may not matter at all. Djokovic has already reached heights no male player ever has, but a 25th major would make him immortal — at least for the next few years, as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz continue to wreak havoc on the tennis world.
The 24-year-old Sinner already has four major titles, while the 22-year-old Alcaraz has six. Alcaraz single-handedly stopped Djokovic from reaching 25 by beating him in back-to-back Wimbledon finals in 2023 and 2024.
‘SinCaraz’ have won the last eight men’s singles Grand Slam titles since the start of 2024, and even the most conservative prediction would back that trend to continue into 2026.
But Djokovic has never been one to obey trends. He didn’t when Federer and Nadal dominated the tennis world, and he won’t now. When Federer mesmerised fans with brilliance and elegance, and Nadal built a following on grit and tenacity, Djokovic usurped them through relentless reinvention.
For him, tennis was never just about serve and volley. He married it with fitness, nutrition and recovery. The result was a physical behemoth capable of surviving brutal five-setters, unforgiving surfaces and the harshest conditions.
That willingness to stay different eventually helped him surge ahead of Federer and Nadal. Djokovic would hope to do the same against Sinner and Alcaraz, even if the formula cannot be identical.
The current world No 1 and No 2 have set new benchmarks for fitness, ball-striking and match tempo. Djokovic pales in comparison — and for someone nearing 40, that is only natural. Physical niggles have become frequent, and most of his defeats in 2025 stemmed from fitness struggles or injury setbacks.
But elite sport has repeatedly shown that greatness is not forged by physical supremacy alone. Mental strength and adaptability matter just as much — qualities that Djokovic possesses in abundance. Otherwise, how does one explain him finishing 2025 as world No 4 after playing just 13 tournaments?
Growing age fails to slow down Djokovic
He was the only player apart from Sinner to reach the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams last year. Djokovic even made the Australian Open 2025 semi-final by beating the world No 1 Alcaraz in four sets.
Only two players — Sinner and Alcaraz — were clearly better than Djokovic in 2025, when he is at least a decade older than the next oldest player in the top 10. And all of that makes him one of the favourites again at the Australian Open.
What could also work in Djokovic’s favour at Melbourne Park — apart from it being his happiest hunting ground — is that he arrives at the first Grand Slam of 2026 well-rested. He last played competitive tennis in early November 2025.
Managing his schedule to preserve his ageing body was a deliberate strategy last year. After losing to Alcaraz in the US Open semi-final, Djokovic admitted he had run out of gas. That should not be an issue this time.
There have been reports of a minor neck issue, but Djokovic appeared in prime physical condition as he eased past Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4 in the exhibition match, before watching Federer’s return to court
and the crowd’s adulation for the Swiss legend.
Novak Djokovic watching Roger Federer practice on Rod Laver Arena.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/UUDGRQcfhu
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 16, 2026
If anything, Djokovic now has the perfect amount of edge and motivation to push harder for the 25th — under familiar conditions, with history within touching distance.
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