Six-time champion Novak Djokovic has the ability to win the Australian Open once again, according to his current mentor Andre Agassi.
The former world No.1 returned to action earlier this week after missing six months of the tour with an elbow injury. Djokovic has openly said that his elbow is ‘not 100%,’ but still managed to look convincing in his wins over Donald Young and Gael Monfils in Melbourne Park. Claiming both of those victories in straight sets.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Agassi believes the 30-year-old can ‘absolutely’ win this year’s Melbourne major. Djokovic is seeded 14th in the draw and could take on world No.4 Alexander Zverev in the fourth round. A player who he lost to in the final of the Italian Masters last year.
“There’s no way for me to hide this. Somebody has to get three sets against him and that is really, really hard to do,” Agassi told the Australian Associated Press.
Questions remain about how Djokovic will fair physically as the tournament progresses. On Thursday he also had to cope with the gruelling conditions with the temperature reaching 40 degrees on the court. Something Djokovic described as ‘brutal’ after the match. Despite the heat, Agassi is confident that the Serbian will fully recover in time for his third round match on Saturday.
“Recovery is not something I worry about with him,” said the eight-time grand slam champion.
“Novak is physically extraordinary and he has a recovery ability that is unlike mine, probably just because the nature of how his body is made and how efficient he is and how much work he’s put in.
“The guy has a capacity for pushing himself that is unique to my eyes.”
Agassi has been collaborating with the 30-year-old since May in what started out as a short-term agreement. During the off-season a new dynamic was added to the team with the inclusion of Radek Stepanek, who retired from the sport last year.
On area the new team has been working on is the Djokovic serve. As a result of his recent injury, it has been modified to reduce the pressure applied on Djokovic’s elbow. Reducing the amount of take-back used in the service motion.
“If you haven’t played for a long time, anything that isn’t quite the centrepiece of your game, can go through a bit of a challenge,” explained Agassi.
“With a new service motion and the pressure and the big match and not playing in a while, that was the time for it to get tested and, getting through it, he’ll be a lot better for it moving forward.
“When you jump back into it and even though it’s healed for the most part – or is at least down to much, much more minimal discomfort – the muscles haven’t been used for three or four hours (straight).
“So that’s why yesterday was a great day. Because if he recovers from that, his body will remember quickly.”
Djokovic will take on Albert Ramos in his third round match on Saturday. He currently leads their head-to-head 4-0 and is yet to drop a set against him.
