"After his monumental five-set Australian Open semi-final win over Jannik Sinner, where he matched the quality, intensity and athleticism of one of the two commanding players in men's tennis, he was immediately reminded that Carlos Alcaraz, the other dominant player, was next: I just hope that I'll have enough gas to stay toe to toe with him, said Djokovic. That's my desire, then let the gods decide the winner."
"Even now, with so much mileage in his legs at 38 years old, Djokovic has never doubted his ability to still match the level of the best player in the world. His durability, however, is another issue altogether and he struggled to recover physically from tough best of five sets matches throughout last season. It cost Djokovic so much energy to put Sinner away after four hours in such a high-intensity match."
Novak Djokovic produced a monumental five-set victory over Jannik Sinner, matching his opponent's high quality, intensity and athleticism. At 38 years old Djokovic remains confident in his ability to compete with the very best, but recovery after long, high-intensity matches has become a pronounced problem. The four-hour semi consumed substantial energy and raises questions about his stamina for the final. Carlos Alcaraz reached the final after a dramatic comeback involving cramps and a fifth-set turnaround. Alcaraz's youth makes lingering effects from cramping less likely, yet recovery will be a crucial factor for both players.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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