Andy Murray has backed Novak Djokovic to spike the young guns and make more history by winning another Australian Open title. Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon triumph over the Serb superstar promised to usher in a new age at the top of men’s tennis. But Djokovic responded by reclaiming the US Open title and finished the year as world No.1 for a record eighth time.
Jannick Sinner beat Djokovic three times in November – including twice at the Davis Cup – but Alcaraz’s SW19 triumph remains the only win by the next generation over the Serb at Grand Slams.
Djokovic has won 10 Australian Open titles and can also set a new record of 25 Grand Slam singles titles at Melbourne Park this month.
And Murray said: “A lot of people were saying the landscape had shifted after Wimbledon and it didn’t really shift. Novak won three slams and lost a five-set epic final at Wimbledon. I still believe that he’s the favourite going in, but I would imagine – I mean he still looks great – but it probably doesn’t get easier.
“I know it doesn’t get easier the older you get but just based on what happened last year alone and the majors… The Davis Cup matches or the World Tour Finals are important events, of course they are, and I’m sure like for Sinner or some of the younger guys, that helps like with their belief when they go on court against him. I know that when the Australian Open rolls ran that it’s not gonna be easy for those guys to win against Novak in a huge match because some of them are trying to do for the very first time, win a major for the very first time.
“Alcaraz was in that position going into Wimbledon where he had won a major already and that was against Casper [Ruud] who had also never won one. Not easy when you’re trying to win your first and you’re playing against the guy who’s won 24 and 10 times. It’s a very different mentality I think.”
Murray is back in Melbourne to write another chapter in his own Australian Open story after losing five finals here – including four to Djokovic – and retiring in 2019 before his second hip operation.
Even last year he beat Matteo Berrettini in five sets before finally seeing off Thanasi Kokkinakis at 4.05pm before going out in the third round.
“I don’t really think the Australian Open owes me one, to be honest. I’ve had great moments here. Obviously disappointed to lose five Australian Open finals, but my record here has been incredible over the years. I’ve played some of my best tennis here and unfortunately in the finals that I played against Novak – he has won this event 10 times and has gone on to achieve what he has – they certainly weren’t easy matches to win. I would have liked to have played probably someone different in those matches, but it wasn’t to be.”
Murray, who turns 37 in May, won only two matches in his final five events of last season but arrived in in Australia after Christmas stating he still loves tennis and had no plans to retire. “I’m still loving the training and the travel and everything,” he said.
Before losing in the first round at the Brisbane International, he then told the BBC: “We’ll see how the year goes, see how the body holds up. If things are going well, I’d love to keep going. But if they’re not, and I’m not enjoying it, it could be the last year, yes.”
The Scot prepared for his 16th Australian Open by losing 6-3 7-5 to Marin Cilic at the Kooyong Classic today.
“I hope that I do better than last year,” said the world No.44. “I didn’t feel like actually played well last year. I certainly lost a number of matches that I could have won. I really didn’t feel good on the court at all last year so hopefully with a few improvements and feeling a bit better, I can certainly challenge the top players.”
Asked if getting closer to the end of his career made playing harder, Murray said: “Well, you could argue for me that was the case last year, but I was also playing rubbish and when you’re not playing well, it’s not as easy to win matches.
“When you’re playing well if you’re confident in your game, it becomes easier. If you’ve been a top player playing the highest level of the game and then your rankings drops and you’re probably not winning as many matches and you get in those situations, you probably don’t cope with them as well. But let’s see.
“If I put myself in those situations, it’s always been one of the better parts of my game. I never had an issue with that in my career, and last year, I felt like because I was not serving well, when it came serving for matches, I was not getting many free points, ending up in long rallies. Just not feeling comfortable on the court. So hopefully with some improved serving and feeling a bit better about my game, when I put myself in those situations, it goes well.”
