'Djokovic and Nadal will finish above Roger Federer', says ATP legend

Currently the favorite for the 2021 Australian Open, indeed, very favorite in the final victory can only be the Serbian Novak Djokovic. The number 1 in the world of the ATP ranking was also the winner of the last two editions of the tournament and in the last 10 years he has won it 7 times, leaving the victory to Stanislas Wawrinka in 2014 and two to Roger Federer only on one occasion. , winner for two consecutive times in 2017 and 2018. Djokovic's first rival will naturally be Rafa Nadal, able this year, with his success at Roland Garros, to equal the record of 20 career Slams won by his long-time rival Federer . The last of the semifinalists of the last edition, the German Alexander Zverev, is in the lowest position of the ATP classification (the seventh to be exact), but it would be a mistake to underestimate his chances of victory. At the age of 23, the young German tennis player of Russian origin seems to have reached a great form and maturity to better manage the tension of the field. In fact, between the end of October and the beginning of November, Zverev won two ATP titles in Cologne and reached the final of the Bercy Master 1000. Undoubtedly Djokovic can only be the big favorite for final victory both for his position in the standings and for repetition victories in the Australian tournament, but the final outcome is not at all obvious and the first great tennis event of the new year will be everything from follow to find out if the predictions will be respected or not. Novak Djokovic has won 17 Grand Slam titles while the all-time record is held by Margaret Court, who has won 24 Majors. Tim Henman believes if Djokovic gets to 21 or 22 Slams, he will be keen to get a couple more and equal Court's record.

Henman and Rusedski on the Big 3

"I mean, it’s not something I would totally put out of the equation," Tim Henman said of Novak Djokovic reaching 24 Slams. "He’s 33 now so you’re saying he’s got to win two Slams a year. That’s a hell of an effort and he’s got to do that for another four years. I think that is asking a lot. But if you talk about him getting to 21, 22 then, you know, another couple added on top as the icing on the cake, the more you think about it – perhaps it is a possibility. It’s phenomenal," he added. Henman's compatriot Greg Rusedski has similar views on the subject. Rusedski claimed that while Djokovic reaching 24 remains a possibility, it is still a very long way off. "Possibly. Novak Djokovic has got to win two next year, I think," Rusedski said. "That would take him up to 19. Rafael Nadal’s got the French, that’s 21. It’s silly numbers. Djokovic and Nadal, I think, will finish above Roger Federer – who would have thought that! But to get to 24, that’s still a long way off. If Nadal can get two next year then it becomes fascinating." Rusedski also believes that the Australian Open will set the tone for the rest of the 2021 season. "The start of the year is very interesting," the 1997 US Open runner-up added. "Rafa will be pretty fresh but Novak likes to own those hard courts Down Under with his record so I think if Novak can win two or three Slams next year then possibly. But it’s a long way off."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3gf29EK