Australian Open 2025: The court craft that elevates Novak Djokovic above Roger Federer

It’s the tricks the 10-time Australian Open champion uses to outbox and outfox opponents that has him on top of the all-time Slam chart.

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Can a G.O.A.T. cry wolf?

I, too, wish Roger Federer was the Greatest Of All Time, for the flamboyance and flair, for the handsomeness and hair, for the artistic one-hander when most backhands are blander, but we’re kidding ourselves there.

To watch the 37-year-old Novak Djokovic using every trick in the book to outfox and outbox the 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, bouncing the ball a million times here, just a couple of times there, stalling when required, more speedily when beneficial, hitting the ball like the cleanest dream, moving his foe up and down, round and round, like a Russian chessmaster, toying with him, like a mobster godfather pulling the strings of a heist, stealing Alcaraz’s signature celebration as though taking ownership of the young man himself … we were watching the G.O.A.T. while burning the midnight oil on Tuesday evening. You’re in a tennis match to win. Djokovic wins.

Novak Djokovic celebrates winning match point against Carlos Alcaraz Picture: AFP

And now, shock, horror, he’s battling injury at the Australian Open. When isn’t he? Do we believe him? Rarely, if ever. Basically, never. His strains are genuine but we suspect hypochondria. A young Djokovic was famous for bunging it on when it came to physical distresses, and he still pays the price for those exaggerations. He reckoned he couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t see, he couldn’t walk, he couldn’t run, he’d limp like he needed a stretcher after losing a point then leap into the next like his beloved Jesus had performed a miracle of healing at four-all in the fifth set. He took so many medical time-outs, baulking opponents, blatant gamesmanship, that we all needed a medical time-out.

Andy Roddick once lampooned Djokovic by citing the Serb’s ailments as “bird flu, SARS, anthrax”. Tempers frayed in a US Open locker room.

Down and out … Alcaraz falls on the court during his loss to Djokovic Picture: AFP

“I was talking trash, and he came out and beat the pants off me in the match, as he would, but then he kind of chirped afterwards,” Roddick once recalled. “He comes straight into the locker room, I went right up to him, had him up against the locker … but then I realised his trainer was a little bit bigger … and I kind of checked myself.”

The respect between Djokovic and Alcaraz is genuine and immense. And yet there was not-so-subtle byplay in the best match of the Open. Alcaraz’s trademark celebration is to place a finger to his ear to orchestrate an ovation. Djokovic did it more and more as the match went on. After a change of ends, Alcaraz pretended to be limping, clearly referencing Djokovic’s misadventures. Wolf! The Serb looked to be on one leg after the first set. Hours later, juiced up on painkillers and adrenaline, which is a hell of a drug, he might have been running around on three.

Djokovic teases Alcaraz by adopting his signature gesture to the crowd Picture: AFP

Speaking to the media at the golden time of 2.17am, he cited a hamstring problem mirroring his infamous injury of 2023, when he claimed to have a 3cm hamstring tear. Aroo! Wolf! We rolled our eyes and doubted the severity. It was probably no bigger than two centimetres, you hyperbolising so-and-so. Of course, after pouring doubt on his ability to continue in the tournament, he won it.

Wolf! He cried so often as a boy. “I mean, it’s definitely going to be challenging from every aspect,” he said ahead of Friday’s semi-final against Alexander Zverev. “The extra day with no match comes at a good time. I have to assess the situation … I’ll try to do as much as I possibly can with my recovery team, with my physio, in the next few days. Probably skip training. I’ll take it day by day.”

Wolf!

“Now it’s really about recovery,” he said

Mutual respect … Djokovic and Alcaraz embrace Picture: Getty Images

after his mega-emotional, mega-gruelling, mega-taxing, mega-brilliant, post-midnight win over Alcaraz. “I’m concerned, to be honest, physically. But if I manage somehow to be physically good enough, I think mentally and emotionally I’m as motivated as I can be. This match drains both players. Almost three and a half, four hours of incredible battle. Of high intensity. It has more toll on the physical side than the mental and emotional.”

Wolf!

“Actually, it feels like you’re feeding off this kind of win,” he said. “That’s how I feel now. I hope to be physically moving freely and to be able to be ready to play five sets. I don’t think I’m going to have mentally or emotionally any issue to face Zverev or to motivate myself. I think I’ve experienced this a few times in my career. Experience helps in understanding how to face adversity and draw the right necessary strength and energy that you feed off in order to win a tennis match. To win a tournament.”

Bird flu! SARS! Anthrax! Wolf!

Djokovic says he has been hampered by an injury Picture: Getty Images

Djokovic was hampered by a similar injury at the Australian Open two years ago Picture: Michael Klein

“I don’t recall the last time it was any slam without some form of drama, to be honest,” he grinned. “I guess that’s part of it. We’re out here competing and giving our best to grab a grand slam title. A lot of things happen on the way. That’s OK. I’m just pleased with the way I’ve been able to play throughout the entire tournament, including the Alcaraz match, against one of the best players, one of the two or three best players in the world in the last three or four years. It’s just a great win and I’m very proud of it.”

The drama king’s left thigh was heavily strapped for the final three sets of the 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 win. He smiled like an angel after match point. The went animal and howled at the moon. Wolf!

Djokovic and Andy Roddick had an infamous clash in the locker room at the US Open

“I’m not going to go into details but it’s very similar to what I had a few years ago,” he said of his injury. “In 2023, to be exact.

“When I had the medical time-out, the physio strapped me and then the doctor gave me some medication and so forth, some painkillers. That kicked in after 20, 30 minutes. It did help. Then I had to take another dose in the beginning of the fourth set. Now that it’s cooling off, I can start to feel different things. Let’s see how it goes day by day.”

It was the first big win for Djokovic under Andy Murray’s coaching. They were both lone wolves as players, baring their fangs and aroo-ing against the world, fighting tooth and nail, and now they’ve teamed up. Murray’s expression after Alcaraz’s dominant first set matched his countenance in the Uber Eats commercial. Befuddlement. They hugged it out inside Rod Laver Arena straight after Djokovic’s victory.

“I feel more and more connected with Andy every day,” Djokovic said. “We face challenges. People don’t see that. We try to make the most out of every day and grow together.

“He’s been as committed to my career and this tournament as he can be. It was kind of a gesture of appreciation, respect for him, and the fact he’s out there and he doesn’t need to be. He accepted to work with me and he’s giving all his support to me, to the whole team, and trying to make it work.

“This was a huge win for all of us, including Andy and myself, for the relationship. That’s why I went to him. I just felt very grateful that he’s here. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next few days … but I’m hoping for the best.”

Wolf?