Djokovic issues a warning to the circuit: "I am in my best physical shape in a long time"

Carlos Navarro | 25 Jan 2026 | 21.05

Djokovic and a curious reflection on his physical condition: Is he at his best moment? Source: Getty

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Novak Djokovic, almost inadvertently, now steps into the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open. The Serbian player got a small boost this morning, when he found out that Jakub Mensik, his opponent in the round of 16, withdrew from the tournament due to an abdominal injury, automatically placing Belgrade's native in the penultimate round of the first Grand Slam of the year.

This circumstance might increase the chances of Nole being the official party pooper for the unstoppable pair Carlos Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner. Several factors need to align for the 38-year-old Serbian to have two fully competitive performances against the two circuit dominators: one of which, undoubtedly, involves minimizing physical strain in the first week of the tournament, conserving energy to avoid struggle in the later rounds, as happened in Wimbledon or the US Open.

However, Djokovic has set out in 2026 to bury that belief. Battling against biology and the passage of time, hiring a biomechanics and injury prevention specialist like Mark Kovacs, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to a cause that still keeps his competitive flame burning bright. The result? Faster and more vibrant than ever in his first three matches, more explosive than in much of 2025... and some words, those shared in his press conference in Serbian, backing the human eye's sensations: Djokovic feels better than ever.