Novak Djokovic has ‘found the secret sauce to longevity’ as legend reveals only way he can be stopped

Martina Navratilova doesn’t “see anybody beating” Novak Djokovic at the Grand Slams this year as he has “found the perfect sauce”.

Djokovic won three of the four majors last year as he lifted trophies at the Australian Open, French Open and US Open while he also finished runner-up at Wimbledon.

In fact, the tennis legend has won seven of the last 10 Grand Slams in which he has competed with Daniil Medvedev (2021 US Open final), Rafael Nadal (2022 French Open quarter-final) and Carlos Alcaraz (2023 Wimbledon final) the only players to beat him.

Unsurprisingly he is once again favourite to win this year’s Australian Open as he hasn’t lost at Melbourne Park since 2018 while he will no doubt be there or thereabouts at the other three majors.

The big question is can anybody stop him in over five sets at the four biggest tournaments on the tennis calendar?

Former world No 1 Navratilova doesn’t think it is possible as she feels the 24-time Grand Slam winner has found the perfect recipe for success at the majors in terms of his schedule.

“He’s found the secret sauce to longevity and really being able to peak for the major. That’s what tennis has become all about, just the majors,” she said on the Tennis Channel.

“So then you really schedule yourself perfectly and Novak has found the perfect sauce, so I don’t see anybody beating him unless they get a lot better, especially three out of five [sets]. Two out of three? A lot of people had a chance.”

Besides his brilliant timing when it comes to peaking at the right time, the 18-time Grand Slam winner also highlighted why he is so successful on the court despite being 36-years-old and revealed there is only one way that Djokovic can be stopped.

She added: “Three out of five? He is so efficient in the way he plays with his stroke production, he doesn’t have to run around his backhand to forehand.

“So he’s really, really efficient and energy conservation. And then he presses the court so much, he gets everybody else. So tired that even if they get two sets, they cannot get three. Father Time has the best chance of beating Novak Djokovic at this stage.”

Djokovic kicked off his 2024 Australian Open campaign with a hard-fought win over Croatian teenager Dino Prizmic on Sunday and will face Alexei Popyrin from Australia in the second round on Tuesday.

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