Renowned coach speaks candidly about Djokovic's chances at the Australian Open

Novak Djokovic is enjoying a favorable path at the Australian Open this year, although increasingly difficult obstacles have started to appear.

Djokovic advanced to the quarterfinals without stepping onto the court Australian Open 2026after his young opponent Jakub Mensik withdrew due to injury. The reluctant decision by the young Czech player allowed Nole to progress deeper into the first Grand Slam of the year without expending extra energy—a crucial advantage in the tournament’s decisive stages.

This marks Djokovic’s 21st appearance at the Australian Open, a tournament closely linked to his name with 10 titles won at Melbourne Park. At 38 years old, the former world number one continues to demonstrate remarkable consistency, having not dropped a set so far and maintaining a very high level of performance. Nole also prepared meticulously during the preseason, clearly showing his determination to compete strongly in the final rounds.

According to the schedule, Djokovic will face Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals on January 28, Vietnam time. If he overcomes the Italian, he is likely to meet Jannik Sinner again—the current world number one and a rival who has had the upper hand in recent encounters. The last time Djokovic defeated Sinner was at the 2023 ATP Finals final in Turin. Since then, the young Italian has risen impressively, winning the last two Australian Open titles.

Therefore, Djokovic’s pursuit of his 25th Grand Slam title is a topic of great interest among experts. Recently, renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou shared a frank perspective on Nole’s chances of winning.

"In my view, Novak cannot compete with Jannik unless he truly desires it mentally. The 25th Grand Slam is a major goal, but I don’t sense that it holds the utmost importance for him,"Mouratoglou commented. According to Serena Williams’ former coach, Djokovic currently plays more out of love for tennis and excitement rather than being obsessed with historical milestones.

Mouratoglou also pointed out that when Nole aimed for an Olympic medal, he displayed a completely different level compared to the rest of the season. This suggests that if he truly "switches on" his desire, the Serbian player can still achieve extraordinary feats. However, facing a young, top-form Jannik Sinner, the path to conquering the Australian Open is clearly far from easy for the Grand Slam record holder.