Australian Open: Novak Djokovic fresh again after arduous ATP Cup

The demands of the ATP Cup forced Novak Djokovic to scale back his preparations for the Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic on the practice court at Melbourne Park on Sunday. The Serbian has had a more relaxed preparation for the Australian Open following the ATP Cup. Picture: AFP

Reigning Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic was forced to alter his preparations for his title defence, due to the arduous nature of the ATP Cup.

Djokovic, 32, led Serbia to success in the inaugural competition with a stunning sweep of his six singles matches, while he was also unbeaten in two doubles rubbers.

The calibre of his rivals added lustre to his remarkable lead-in, with Djokovic claiming victories over two-time grand slam finalist Kevin Anderson, rising Canadian star Denis Shapovalov, US Open finalist Daniil Medvedev and Spanish world No 1 Rafael Nadal.

But the intense nature of the competition sapped his energy, which means he has treated the last week in Melbourne heading into the Australian Open slightly differently this time around.

“It was a lot of physical and emotional energy being spent in the ATP Cup which, of course, was perfect for me individually,” Djokovic said on Sunday.

“It was a phenomenal couple of weeks and a great lead-up to the Australian Open. But it did take a lot out of me. I had to adjust my training sessions towards that, so I had a little more recuperation, rather than just stepping on the accelerator a little bit more.

“I kind of put (it) a level down, just tried to keep the sessions a bit shorter, with good intensity. That’s all, just to maintain the right rhythm for the first match.”

The addition of the ATP Cup to the schedule and the effect it has on the leading Australian Open contenders shapes as a fascinating sub-plot of the tournament.

Nadal, who is second favourite, was similarly taxed and was too exhausted to play the deciding doubles in the final of the competition a week ago in Sydney.

The pair practised back-to-back on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday with Melbourne sunny and smoke-free.

Djokovic plays Jan-Lennard Struff in his opening match on Rod Laver Arena on Monday night.

The powerful German will be assisted in his strategy for the match by Austin-based Australian analyst Craig O’Shannessy, who used to work for Djokovic.

Should Djokovic beat Struff he will become the sixth player in the open era to reach the milestone of 600 wins.

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But there are greater goals within reach. An eighth Australian Open title, for example. And also the jostling with Roger Federer and Nadal to be the greatest player in history.

The Swiss veteran leads the pack with 20 grand slams, one ahead of Nadal, but Djokovic has closed rapidly after a remarkable decade during which he claimed 15 major titles.

“Milestones are definitely a motivation, I think,” he said.

“At the same time, they make me proud … of what I have achieved in my career.

“They give even more significance to why I am competing in professional tennis still.

“But at the same time, there’s some other higher goals that I have … as a driving force, I think, more than any other milestones, I guess. But they are important.”

Djokovic was one of the first players this summer to voice his concerns about the smoke haze that has been a problem up and down Australia’s east coast.

But he feels Melbourne’s notoriously fickle weather will help ward off the smoke over the next fortnight. It began raining in the city late on Sunday and wet weather is predicted for the next four days.

“It was sad to see some players collapsing and ball kids collapsing on the court,” he said.

“I have faith in Melbourne — the ‘four seasons city’ as they call it — that changes the weather very quickly.

“Luckily they have three closed courts with the roof. But still, there are so many matches, so many players. Let’s hope that the worst is behind us.”