Andy Roddick issues ‘vintage, peak Novak Djokovic’ claim after the Serb’s Australian Open run

Ewan West
Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick
Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick

Former world No 1 Andy Roddick has assessed that Novak Djokovic displayed “glimpses” of his “vintage, peak” form at the 2025 Australian Open.

Djokovic delivered a sensational performance to defeat Carlos Alcaraz in four sets in the quarter-finals of the Melbourne Grand Slam.

The tennis legend was then forced to retire after the first set of his semi-final clash with Alexander Zverev due to a hamstring tear he sustained in his win over Alcaraz.

The world No 7 also defeated Nishesh Basavareddy, Jaime Faria, Tomas Machac and Jiri Lehecka during his run at the hard-court major.

Djokovic was aiming to win a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title and his first since his triumph at the 2023 US Open.

The 37-year-old Serbian’s historic gold medal victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics is the only title he has won since the 2023 ATP Finals.

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Speaking on an episode of his Served podcast, Roddick expressed his disappointment at how Djokovic’s tournament ended given the level he had found.

“Novak looked okay at times, looked compromised at times,” the American said. “Zverev wins the first set and then are you asking yourself, ‘Can I actually play a minimum of three more physical sets?’

“Novak didn’t waste any time. Listen, he’s either hurt or he’s not. People seem to be making a big deal about him not calling the trainer and just walking right around, but that part doesn’t bother me.

“I don’t need the ceremony of a trainer walking out, pressing around and really not doing much. I mean, if there’s an injury, there’s an injury. I’m not sure what the trainer does in that scenario.

“If there’s nothing that could have been done in the last two days to get him to the moment where he thought he could play five sets, then I’m not sure what we’re gonna do in 90 seconds in front of a crowd full of people to make Novak feel like he can play at least three more sets if he wants to win.

“And if he doesn’t think he can play those three more sets physically, then what is he actually doing?

“Disappointing, because I think that was the first time — the last three matches — that we’ve seen Novak in full flight.

“Obviously won the Olympics, looked great there, but in a Grand Slam, since he won 2023 US Open, I think this is the first time we got glimpses of kind of vintage, peak Novak.”

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