“Djokovic can surprise and defeat Alcaraz and Sinner in Grand Slams.”

Novak Djokovic, the eternal gladiator of tennis, continues to defy expectations and debunk the notion that age can be an obstacle in the pursuit of more titles. His recent feats have sparked a heated debate in the sports world, especially following statements made by Goran Ivanisevic, his former coach and a central figure in his career.

Ivanisevic, who mentored Djokovic from 2019 to 2024, recently stated that the words “I can’t” and “impossible” are not part of the Serbian’s vocabulary. This bold assertion comes at a time when Djokovic, despite not having won a Grand Slam since defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final of the 2023 US Open, has once again demonstrated his grit at this year’s Australian Open. He reached his 56th Grand Slam final after an impressive victory over Jannik Sinner, the defending champion, before succumbing to the young prodigy Carlos Alcaraz.

Many experts are questioning whether the 38-year-old star still has time to secure his 25th Grand Slam. However, Ivanisevic maintains an optimistic outlook: “If I hadn’t worked with Novak, I might have said it’s not possible. But knowing him as I do, I know his determination is unshakeable. He can, of course he can. If he is mentally prepared and focused, no one can underestimate him.”

The rivalry between Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Sinner has been one of the most debated topics on the circuit, with the new generation dominating the tournaments. Both Alcaraz and Sinner have won nine consecutive Majors and lost only two matches this year. However, Alcaraz’s recent defeats at the Indian Wells and Miami tournaments have raised some questions about his form. Ivanisevic, on the other hand, does not view these losses as a crisis, but rather as a challenge, and reaffirms that “only Djokovic can defeat them in the Grand Slams,” even though beating both in less than two days is a Herculean task.

As he approaches his 39th birthday, Djokovic has already achieved everything there is to achieve in the world of tennis, but his passion for the sport and competition continues to drive him. What motivates him to keep fighting? “Listening to some experts, it seems there are always those who consider him finished. I don’t know if those people truly understand tennis. Djokovic is driven by love for the game, the adrenaline of competition, and the desire to win.”

Furthermore, there are rumors that Djokovic plans to compete until the Olympics, indicating that he still has many goals ahead of him. “He will certainly be close to the top,” says Ivanisevic, noting that, even after a year filled with challenges, Djokovic still holds the third position in the world ranking, proving that, regardless of others’ opinions, his performance on the court speaks for itself.

The saga of Novak Djokovic continues to intrigue and inspire as he prepares to face the greatest challenges of his career and, who knows, add more titles to his already impressive resume.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.