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Goran Ivanisevic says whether Novak Djokovic can win another Grand Slam as he makes retirement prediction

Novak Djokovic at the 2025 Australian Open, with an inset of Goran Ivanisevic
Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images
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Novak Djokovic is set to face off against Alexander Zverev for a place in the Australian Open final.

Just four players remain in the men’s Australian Open, with Djokovic, Zverev, Jannik Sinner, and Ben Shelton all vying for the title.

Sinner won the 2024 Australian Open and is the heavy favorite against Shelton to reach his second consecutive final.

TOPSHOT-TENNIS-AUS-OPEN
Photo by MARTIN KEEP/AFP via Getty Images

Djokovic battled past Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals, having been struck down with an injury during the first set.

The Serbian star is the most successful player remaining in the competition and is being tipped to qualify for the final ahead of Germany’s Zverev.

With things looking good for Djokovic in Melbourne, his former coach has predicted whether he can win the tournament.

Goran Ivanisevic will ‘always put money’ on Novak Djokovic to win a Grand Slam

Ahead of Djokovic’s semi-final clash with Zverev, former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic was asked whether he thinks the Serb can win another Major title.

“Yes, I believe he can win,” he said.

“Okay, [Jannik] Sinner is the favorite and the best player in the world at the moment but Novak [Djokovic] is Novak and when he’s present on the court, then I always put my money on Novak.”

The Croat went on to make a bold prediction as to how long the ATP world number seven will continue playing tennis.

“He is a genius,” he said.

TENNIS-AUS-OPEN
Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images

“If you see his career he is probably among Rafa [Nadal], him, Roger [Federer], and Andy [Murray] – he was always the most fit and least injured,” he said.

“That’s why he was caring for his body with his eating and excercise and he’s still here.

“Not just here, he is one of the favourites to win the tournament.

“He can still play for another couple of years.”

Ivanisevic went on to explain how Djokovic’s preparation has allowed him to compete at the highest level for so long.

TENNIS-AUS-OPEN
Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images

“He is a perfectionist who wants everything to be 100% every day,” he said.

“What was good is not good tomorrow and you need to be ready, always be 24 hours alert.

“But it’s okay, I learned that with him, it’s how he approached the matches, how he approached practice, how he takes care of his body.”

Who is the oldest player to win the Australian Open?

At 37 years old very few players win Grand Slam titles, although that’s not to say that it has never been done before.

Ken Rosewall won the 1972 Australian Open at 37 years, and two months old, and remains the oldest player to have won the tournament.

Ken Rosewall holds cup for winning Australian Tennis Championship at Kooyong, wa
Photo by Fairfax Media via Getty Images/Fairfax Media via Getty Images via Getty Images

He is remarkably also the youngest player to have won the title, taking home victory in 1953 at 18 years old.

Djokovic won’t be able to take that record of Rosewall, but if he were to lift the trophy on Sunday, he would become the oldest player to win the Australian Open, at 37 years, and eight months.

It won’t be easy, however, as the Serb faces a tough test against world number two, Zverev in the semis.

The Serb has a comfortable lead in the head-to-head against Zverev, but that’s not to say that the 27-year-old hasn’t experienced his fair share of victories over the past few years.

MatchWinnerLoserScore
2023 Cincinnati (SF)Novak DjokovicAlexander Zverev7-6, 7-5
2021 ATP Finals (SF)Alexander ZverevNovak Djokovic7-6, 4-6, 6-3
2021 US Open (SF)Novak DjokovicAlexander Zverev4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
2021 Olympics (SF)Alexander ZverevNovak Djokovic1-6, 6-3, 6-1
2021 ATP Cup (RR)Novak DjokovicAlexander Zverev6-7, 6-2, 7-5
2021 Australian Open (QF)Novak DjokovicAlexander Zverev6-7, 6-2, 6-4, 7-6
2020 ATP Finals (RR)Novak DjokovicAlexander Zverev6-3, 7-6
2019 French Open (QF)Novak DjokovicAlexander Zverev7-5, 6-2, 6-2
2018 ATP Finals (F)Alexander ZverevNovak Djokovic6-4, 6-3
2018 ATP Finals (RR)Novak DjokovicAlexander Zverev6-4, 6-1
2018 Shanghai (SF)Novak DjokovicAlexander Zverev6-2, 6-1
2017 Rome (F)Alexander ZverevNovak Djokovic6-4, 6-3
Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev’s head-to-head record

Djokovic leads the head-to-head 8-4, and won their only previous meeting at Melbourne Park, back in the 2021 quarter-finals.

Only time will tell who will come out on top this time around as Djokovic takes on Zverev in the Australian Open semi-final, on Friday, January 24.