The prospect of holding all four grand slam titles within the same season is motivating Novak Djokovic ahead of the Australian Open, according to his mentor Marian Vajda.
The world No.1 enters into Melbourne next week on a 14-match winning streak in grand slam tournaments. Last year Djokovic defeated Kevin Anderson to win Wimbledon, followed by triumphing over Juan Martin del Potro in the final of the US Open. Bringing Djokovic’s total tally in the majors to 14, which is the third highest of all time alongside Pete Sampras.
“Novak would like to win the calendar grand slam, to win all four of the biggest tournaments in the same year.” Vajda told Sport Klub.
At present, the 31-year-old is on course to achieve a non-calendar grand slam should he triumph in both Melbourne and the French Open. He has already reached that milestone before between 2015-2016. Although only one man in the Open Era has ever achieved a calendar slam (within all the same majors within the same year). That was Australian legend Rod Laver back in 1969.
Should Djokovic continue the dominance he established during the second half of 2018, he could one day threaten Roger Federer’s all-time record of 20 grand slam titles. Djokovic is six years younger than his Swiss rival.
“We have also talked about (beating) Roger Federer’s record, Novak currently has 14 (grand slam) titles, and Roger 20. In order to do all this, he needs to work hard and be healthy,” said Vajda.
“When I started working with Novak again, he was not able to win the important matches. I knew he would be a champion again, I just did not know when.” He added.
Last week Djokovic encountered a blip on the tour after crashing out in the semi-finals of the Qatar Open in Doha. He was leading the match by a set and a break, but ended up losing to eventual champion Roberto Bautista Agut. Making it the first time he has failed to win a title at two consecutive tournaments since June.
Despite his loss, rival Federer has tipped the Serbian to be the strong favourite for the Melbourne title next week. Should he win this year, Djokovic would become the most decorated male player in Australian Open history with seven titles.
“No doubt about it, Novak is the favourite,” said Federer. “Regardless of what happened in Doha, the game had a super, super strong last five or six months of the year.
“With his class once he gets his groove back he is hard to beat.”
The main draw for the Australian Open will be conducted on Thursday.
