Novak Djokovic’s title drought labelled ‘insane’ as former No 1 poses ominous Carlos Alcaraz question
Tennis great Tracy Austin believes it is “insane” that Novak Djokovic has not won a title this year as she discussed the Serbian legend’s future in the sport.
The former world No 1 also declared it seemed like Carlos Alcaraz was “toying” with Djokovic in the Wimbledon final and suggested the Spaniard is “starting to separate himself.”
Djokovic was convincingly beaten by Alcaraz in straight sets in the 2024 Wimbledon championship match in his only final of the season to date.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner is enduring his longest trophyless start to a year since he claimed his first-ever ATP title at the Dutch Open in July 2006.
The 37-year-old secured seven titles during a remarkable 2023 season, the last of which came in November at the 2023 ATP Finals in Turin.
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Speaking on the Tennis Channel Inside-In podcast, Austin discussed Djokovic’s challenging 2024 campaign and urged the current world No 2 to keep playing.
“At 37, he is the only one who can know how full his gas tank is and how motivated he is,” said the American.
“He hasn’t won a title this year, which is insane, but I think he has only played seven tournaments, so it’s definitely a lighter schedule because he knows at his age, maybe he wants to spend more time with his kids and doesn’t want to test his body too much.
“I can’t answer that. We don’t know what these guys are feeling. The love of the game and the love of the sport and the way they have been able to take care of their bodies better than others [in] past decades, I am going to say play as long as we want, we love to watch you.”
The two-time US Open champion also lauded Alcaraz’s performance against Djokovic at Wimbledon.
“It was exciting,” Austin reflected. “At the end of the day, Carlos Alcaraz served incredibly well and returned incredibly well. Sometimes it seemed like he was, I don’t know, toying with Novak. It was just so good.
“You’re scratching your head like, ‘Now you’re taking tennis to another level,’ and this is very exciting where we can go when you think about [Jannik] Sinner and the athleticism he has.
“Didn’t get nervous until he was serving at 40-0 [at 5-4 in the third set]. It was kind of fun that he had to kind of wiggle out of that and figure it out, to see Carlos get through and get his fourth Major.
“Just building. I think it’s exciting for the next decade and a half to see where men’s tennis can go because there are a few in the conversation, but is Carlos starting to separate himself?”
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