Novak Djokovic returns to his beloved Australia after his adventure last year and from the very first official week of the new season in Adelaide he showed who the big favorites are to win the title in Melbourne.

The 35-year-old Serb, who has won the Australian Open title nine times, is the man to beat in the first grand slam of the season, but Stefanos Tsitsipas believes the new generation can put the brakes on Nole’s long tradition at Kangaroo Island .

“I think it’s really good for his fans that he’s coming back and playing at this year’s Australian Open. He’s one of the strongest guys on the board. He’s still got it. He can still play. He can get deep into that tournament. He played very, very well in Adelaide. He had some good games there. It’s up to us to do something and stop him.” said the Greek champions at Saturday’s media day from Melbourne Park.

Tsitsipas and Djokovic can only meet in the final of the tournament.

Tsitsipas is gearing up for his 6th Australian Open appearance and has three semi-final appearances at the event (2019, 2021-22). Five and a half years after his Grand Slam debut (Roland Garros 2017), more experienced and mentally prepared, the 24-year-old Greek knows he has the potential to go far in Australia and continue his quest for his first Grand Slam.

“The biggest challenge this year is to come back stronger after the losses. We have younger players coming from behind. We still have Novak and Rafa who still play good tennis. They are still here. We have it to do with a lot of different things that are thrown at us.. In my case, I know I have a lot of things to do this year. I have the ability to deal with the pressures and challenges that I’m going to face. With the right one Preparation comes right execution.” he added.

Stefanos hopes to continue and improve on the good form he showed at the United Cup where they joined Maria Sakkari and the rest of the team to reach Greece in the semi-finals of the newly formed institution.

Speaking of the United Cup, Tsitsipas praised the importance of similar events that boost national spirit and make tennis players forget for a while that tennis is an individual sport.

“The United Cup was a great experience. I’m glad this tournament took place. I loved every minute of it and the fact that I shared it with Maria by my side. We made some really good memories, both in Perth and Sydney, despite our loss to Italy, I will only take good things from it.

we fought We didn’t emerge victorious, but it was definitely one of those events that tennis needs. Tennis has no such events. Tennis is a very individual, lonely sport. Sharing those moments together, being part of the same cause and goal made me grow as a player and made me look forward to the next edition of the United Cup.”

In the 1st round of the Australian Open, Stefanos Tsitsipas meets world No. 64 Kuedan Alis on Monday at Margaret Court Arena (10:00 GMT).

Source: Tennis24