Novak Djokovic expressed his belief that the upcoming Australian Open does not represent a do-or-die opportunity for him to secure an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam championship, setting a new all-time record.
The 38-year-old Djokovic has held 24 major wins, matching Australian legend Margaret Court, ever since his most recent success at the US Open in 2023.
While it’s expected that the Serbian athlete has exhibited indicators of his advancing age recently, he nevertheless succeeded in reaching the semi-final stage at each of the four Grand Slam tournaments during the previous year.
Considering his unparalleled achievement of winning the men’s title 10 times in Melbourne, coupled with ample recuperation time before the season’s initial major competition, there is a widespread agreement that the Australian Open offers him the most promising prospect for capturing the highly sought-after, record-setting championship.
“Considerable discussion has revolved around the potential 25th title, however, I endeavor to direct my attention towards my accomplishments rather than speculating on what I might achieve,” stated Djokovic, who holds the fourth seed position at Melbourne Park.
“I aspire to reach that milestone [of 25 wins], yet 24 is certainly a respectable figure. It’s imperative that I acknowledge this and reflect on the remarkable career I’ve built.”
Djokovic has consistently been open about his ambition to forge further historical achievements, but he is currently striving to alleviate some of the “superfluous” self-imposed pressure associated with eclipsing Court’s record.
His newest quest is set to commence with a match against Spain’s Pedro Martinez during the Monday night session, taking place at Rod Laver Arena.
“I do not believe it is necessary for me to embrace an all-or-nothing or an urgent, do-it-now kind of perspective,” commented Djokovic, who is also seeking to establish himself as the most senior male Grand Slam victor in the Open Era.
“Such an outlook also hinders my ability to perform at my peak and achieve excellence.”
