Novak Djokovic’s biggest threat as he targets legacy defining 2023

Novak Djokovic is eyeing up a new year that could cement his legacy as the greatest tennis player of all-time – yet his biggest opponent may not be on the other side of the net.

After a year that started with his deportation from Australia and continued with his absence from a host of big events in America, including the US Open, over his Covid vaccine status, Djokovic ended the year ranked at No 5 in the ATP rankings.

Yet his dominant performances at the back end of 2022 that culminated with a thrilling performance as he won the ATP Finals suggested he is still the player to beat.

“I always see myself as the best player in the world,” said Djokovic. “I have that kind of mentality and that kind of approach.

“Regardless of who is across the net, regardless of what the surface is, regardless of what season it is, what number of the professional season in my career we’re facing. It’s always the same. The ambitions are as high as possible.

“I had an amazing finish to the season with most of the tournaments that I played indoors I won. Indoors has been historically very successful for me.

“Playing in Italy, in a country where I love to play, where I have really special connection with people, makes this trophy and this win even more special.”

With Australian authorities confirming Djokovic will be allowed into Melbourne to play next month’s Australian Open, the door is open for the Serbian to win his tenth title in the opening major of the year and draw level with Rafael Nadal on 22 major titles.

If that scenario plays out, Djokovic would head to Paris in May for the French Open with his eyes fixed on overtaking Nadal and cementing his legacy as the greatest of them all.

The debate over who is the king among Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer has rumbled on for many years, but the player who ends his career with the most Grand Slam titles will justifiably have claims to that title.

And on current form, Djokovic looks almost certain to win at least two majors in 2023, with his dominance at Wimbledon enhanced by the retirement of Federer.

“I think it’s appalling what’s happened and the way it’s turned out (for Djokovic),” former British No 1 Annabel Croft told Tennis365, in her role as a Game4Padel ambassador.

“I just think the whole thing is a mess. Not being able to play Australian and the US Open was just ridiculous.

“He should have been allowed to play in America because by the time that tournament took place, the restrictions were being lifted all over the world.

“And when you look forward to next year, there is no doubt in my mind that Novak is the player to beat.

“You look at the way he played at Wimbledon, even after everything that happened to him, and it was just flawless. He was magnificent and the way he found a way to beat Nick Kyrgois in the final was so impressive.

“Make no mistake, Kygrois is very dangerous when he is at his best and he was playing some fantastic tennis at Wimbledon, but Novak found a way to neutralise him and win another major. It was so impressive.”

Rivals on the court will certainly include old foe Nadal, especially when he gets onto his favourite surface of clay in the spring.

The emergence of Holger Rune and his stunning over over Djokovic is another intriguing story to follow in 2023 and Kyrgois will also be a threat to Djokovic if he plays him at the Australian Open.

Yet the biggest concern for Djokovic fans may be an apparent ongoing health concern that could threaten his ambitions on court.

It was back in April that Djokovic confirmed he was struggling with a condition that “that affects my metabolism”, with his comments coming after he faded physically and lost the last set of the Belgrade ATP 250 final to Andrey Rublev.

“It’s worrying to have that feeling on the court,” he said at the time.

“I didn’t feel tired until the end of the second set. The 5-4 game was a long game and that’s when I started to not feel good.

“It also happened to me in Monte Carlo. So I think it’s related to the illness I went through, which was something hard physically and also to my health.”

Those comments were backed-up by some alarming scenes at tournaments in the final weeks of the season, as Djokovic was seen to be shaking uncontrollably in his chair at the change of ends and seemingly in considerable physical distress.

When fit and healthy, there is no doubt that Djokovic is still the best player in the world at the age of 35.

Yet given what we have seen over the last few months, Djokovic’s health is his biggest concern heading into 2023.