Rod Laver would welcome Novak Djokovic to the ‘club’, but has a word of caution for world No 1

Tennis icon Rod Laver would welcome Novak Djokovic to the “Calendar Grand Slam Club” with open arms, but the Australian has warned the world No 1 that he is putting a lot of extra pressure on himself by talking about the feat.
Djokovic is gunning to become only the third player after Laver (twice) and Don Budge to win all four majors in a year. Budge was the first man to complete the milestone in 1938 before Laver joined him in the “club” in 1962. The Australian then became the first and only men’s player to date to win all four Grand Slams in the same year in the Open Era in 1969.
The Serbian will join the “club” if he wins the US Open and Laver would welcome him, but has a warning for the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
“I’d be very happy to shake his hand if he can win the four Slams. I’d be happy for him to be a part of — whether it’s a ‘club’ or not, I don’t know,” he told The Associated Press.
He added: “I never said I was going for a Grand Slam; that’s pressure right there. And Djokovic, I think he wants to talk about it, and so that could be a detriment, if there is one,” he said.
“He knows all the players, so there shouldn’t be any problem with (that). … I think pressure is the one thing Djokovic may find himself having problems (with). Maybe he’s not feeling well. There’s lots of things that can go wrong.”
Latest
-
Australian Open
Aryna Sabalenka dedicates Australian Open trophy to her ‘crazy’ team
Aryna Sabalenka says her team deserve the Australian Open trophy more than she does.
-
Australian Open
Aryna Sabalenka proves doubters wrong with emotional Grand Slam triumph
Aryna Sabalenka found another level to win brutal Australian Open final.
-
Tennis News
Aryna Sabalenka goes from underarm serving and 428 double faults in 2022 to mentality monster in 2023
Aryna Sabalenka has gone from underarm serving to coming up clutch in big moments en route to winning Australian Open.
-
Australian Open
Aryna Sabalenka powers her way to Australian Open title with impressive win over Elena Rybakina
Aryna Sabalenka is a Grand Slam champion!
-
Australian Open
Elena Rybakina’s coach Stefano Vukov under fire: ‘I hope she finds a coach who speaks and treats her with respect’
Stefano Vukov hasn’t made too many friends with his behaviour during matches.
-
Australian Open
Third time lucky for Alfie Hewett as he sets sights on being ‘figurehead’ for wheelchair tennis
The 25-year-old from Norfolk won his maiden Australian Open wheelchair singles title.
-
Australian Open
Novak Djokovic’s family ‘upset’ over flag uproar as Australian Open chief urges them ‘to be really careful’
“The family were very good. They were upset that it was taken that way.”
-
Australian Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas’ mentality and forehand labelled big weapons ahead of Novak Djokovic final
Stefanos Tsitsipas “in a different state of mind” after difficult 2022.
-
Australian Open
Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas labelled a dream final
It is almost time to settle the new World No 1.
-
Australian Open
Inside story on the technology propelling Stefanos Tsitsipas to the top
Adidas have taken its tennis offering to a new level with the release of their Adizero Cybersonic tennis shoe.