Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner

Novak Djokovic has insisted he would have been confident of beating Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final if an untimely hamstring injury had not ended his hopes of winning an 11th title in Melbourne.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has opened up on his ambitions for 2025 in a detailed interview with Vijesti, with his bullish mood suggesting he is still confident of beating the young guns at the top of the ATP Rankings in the tournaments that matter most.

Djokovic rolled back the years as he beat French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, but he sustained a hamstring injury in that match that forced him to withdraw from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev.

Now Djokovic has given his reflections on the events in Melbourne last month, as he suggested he would have fancied his chances of beating eventual champion Sinner in the final.

“I always give myself great chances, I cannot be immodest,” he declared.

“I am an optimist when anyone is across the net and that is something that has always graced my career and led me to sporting heights.

“That’s why I say immodestly, I think that with such a game that I raised and achieved in the quarter-final victory against Alcaraz, I would have had a good chance against Zverev in the semi-final, who should have been beaten and if I had been healthy, and then also against Sinner.

“What could have been, that is now in the past. I think that the games and the level of tennis that I reached in Australia are promising before the season continues.”

Djokovic went on to claim his confidence has been boosted by his performances in Australia, as he confirmed he is still a contender for Grand Slam titles at the age of 37.

“So this season I was looking to start with at least a satisfactory level of play and I think I achieved that,” he stated.

“Of course, it can always be better, but the performance in Melbourne gives me an additional incentive.

“Currently, as I would say, I am in the middle between my desires. The need to enjoy the achievements I have achieved and I approach matches and tournaments a little more relaxed on the one hand, and what I am used to on the other hand, which is the mentality of winning and thinking ‘only the title is a success, the rest is not’.

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“I somehow got used to that myself, which is perhaps a good ‘problem’ to have at this stage of my life and career.

“Let’s say, I was a little surprised by how many people saw my placement in the semi-finals of the Australian Open as a success – maybe it sounds a bit stupid to say, but to me when someone says semi-final, considering what I have achieved in my career, although it is certainly a success, it is not what I was looking for and what I would be satisfied with.

“These are all the emotions and thoughts that run through my head, but I still have passion and love for sports and competition and I am grateful for the support I receive, not only from Serbia, but also from Montenegro and the entire region, but also from the world. Those people and that support encourage me to continue to travel and compete and give me motivation for new victories.”

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