Australian Open 2025 – There are not many who can beat this Djokovic

A hint of doubt hovered around Novak Djokovic. His defeat in Brisbane in the quarter-finals. His two victories each time losing a set during the first two rounds in Melbourne, against two “kids”. Where was he really at? His 6th final against Tomas Machac on Friday was therefore timely to find out more about the 2025 version of the Djoker in Melbourne. We saw and we know.

Against the one who was rightly presented as a potential threat, the Serb showed his flashiest face. “My best match of the tournament“, he said after his success in three sets, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. True. A little more than that, even. It was the very best Djoko. In the game plan , intensity, determination Last year, we had never seen him so sharp in Melbourne, even if he reached the semi-finals, where he lost against Jannik Sinner. life and of desire. Launched this year in a reconquest operation, it displays a very different state of mind.

One thing is never wrong in his attitude. This way of complaining, of railing against himself, against his clan, a spectator or the whole world. Even when everything is going well and unfolding. “This is what we must remember the most todaybelieves Justine Hénin. For me, it's this hyper demanding, quite intolerant attitude throughout the match. We know that Novak Djokovic needs that. It may seem excessive, it may seem crazy sometimes when you see the score, but it also shows his ambition in this Australian Open. I find that to be the most reassuring thing about the Serbian today.“

All things considered, this is reminiscent of the furious Djokovic after his defeat against Marco Cecchinato at Roland-Garros in 2018. He held his press conference, in the smallest room, ever used for this purpose in the quarter-finals, and offered answers of two or three words, no more. He was angry.

It had been two years since he had won a Grand Slam tournament but never, during these two years, had we felt so angry. It was a sign that his rage to win was back. Defeat was once again unbearable for him. A month later, he won Wimbledon and began a new triumphant phase of his career.

During the 2024 Australian Open, we do not remember seeing him in the state he was in on Friday at the Rod Laver Arena. Indifference, even relative, even simply apparent, ill suits his ambitions. Without predicting what will happen to him in Melbourne this year, his desire is once again that of a young man. It was an essential prerequisite.

If Djokovic remained noticeably behind last season, he showed on a few occasions that he was still capable of playing at the highest level. As during the Paris Olympic Games, to conquer the only title that was still missing. No doubt he needed one more trigger to definitively enter his tournament. The match against Machac is very similar.

“I like the way I played tonighthe mentioned. I knew it would be a big test for me, and to be honest, I didn't expect to win in three sets like that against him, because he is strong, he was in great shape and I was prepared for this. I was really ready to play my best tennis and I had a sensational match.” And that's exactly what he did.

The lesson of this match is that against the vast majority of players on the circuit, everything depends on him. This Djokovic, as intense in his commitment and precise in his intentions, can only be beaten by a tiny handful of contenders. Even at 37 years old. Especially here in Melbourne. In this list that fits on the fingers of one hand, there are Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and perhaps the best Alexander Zverev. And that's probably it. This Djoko is a game changer.

Only problem for “Nole”, the table could well require him to string these three together (in disorder), from the quarters to the final, if logic is respected. The 25th Grand Slam is therefore far from guaranteed. But if he stays the course, if he remains inhabited until the end by this form of sacred fire which makes him almost unbearable while placing him in a form of second state and if his physique goes the distance, he will have to be strong to stop him. Very strong.