Tim Henman thinks Novak Djokovic has made clear for other players that he still maintains the same poise and determination after reaching the 2024 Australian Open seminal.
John McEnroe praised the 24-time Grand Slam champion for his ability to do absolutely anything and maintaining the hunger despite being on the wrong side of 30. Djokovic defeated American Taylor Fritz in four sets in the quarters of the Australian Open to reach the final four of the tourney for the 11th time in his career.
The 10-time champion at Melbourne Park has never lost in semifinals or the final of the opening slam of the tennis season – a fate that reflects his perfection at the event.
He is on a 33-match win streak at the Australian Open and is aiming for a fifth title, having last dropped his guard at the event in 2018.
After Djokovic’s impressive quarterfinal win against World No. 12 Fritz, talking to Eurosport, Henman highlighted legendary Serbian’s attitude as an ominous warning for the young challengers looking to dethrone him.
“It’s very ominous for the other players [how relaxed he is]; how he’s looking so contented with where he’s at. His form is great. No-one would be surprised if he goes on and wins the title again,” the former world No 4 said.
“That was a battle. He’ll be relieved to get through the match. I don’t know why we’re surprised, we’ve seen him play this type of tennis so often in Melbourne. He finds a way to get the job done.
“He can’t relax in that second set and just lose it if he loses the first set. That’s why we realized how important that was for both players, but especially Fritz, to have those set points [in the first set] and not take them.
“It just gives Djokovic the breathing room, and from Fritz’s point of view, he’s played an hour and 25 minutes for that first set and got nothing out of it. He’s like, ‘Wow, I’ve still got to win three of the next four’. So it’s a mountain to climb at all times.”
7-time Slam champion Mats Wilander assessed that the importance of the first frame in the quarter-final clash.
“The first set changes everything. When you say three hours and 45 minutes, I would say that Taylor Fritz was out there for three hours and 45 minutes. Novak is not out there for more than two hours,” the former world No 1 assessed.
“The third set wasn’t very hard. Novak has this unbelievable ability to suddenly just relax and let it go, which is what he kind of did in the second set.
“Zero for 15 break points, that’s unbelievable. He wants to be two sets up. But does it matter if he doesn’t win the second set? Not really. There’s a big difference on what Taylor Fritz has to go through and what Novak goes through because he’s so much better in so many places.”
7-time major singles champion McEnroe also talked about the World No.1’s doing his things in Melbourne Park and marveled at his completeness and drive given his age.
“I have to hand it to Novak because he started serving terribly. His percentage was like 20%. By the end of the match, he had more aces and was a higher percentage than Fritz, who I don’t think served that badly,” said the former World No. 1.
“At one stage he was zero for 15 on break points and it still felt like he was putting all kinds of pressure on Fritz, who did a lot of good things. He played really well; tried a lot of different things.
“He tried the drop shot, he tried to come in more….you name it. It didn’t work, because Djokovic has got everything now. Absolutely everything; he can do anything now.
“It’s amazing to watch; to see this guy at 36 years old want it this much, to have the hunger to do what it takes. I thought I knew what it took to play at a high level. This is a crazy level. It’s insane.”
Djokovic will face the Italian ATP #4 Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals on Friday.