Novak Djokovic enjoyed another comfortable win at the Australian Open earlier today, securing his spot in the third round.
It marked the perfect start to the season for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who is seeking to create history in Melbourne by claiming his 25th.
To do so, it’s widely recognised that he will need plenty of things to go his way, before then possibly beating both Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
His best chances of achieving that near-impossible feat will only come if he can conserve his energy in the earlier rounds, which thus far he has done successfully.
However, in his post-match press conference, it was actually the fans whom he was asked about, given the overcrowding fears that the Australian Open has had this year.
Novak Djokovic speaks about the record crowds at the Australian Open
As Alexandra Eala geared up to face Alycia Parks on Court Six, there were hundreds of fans lining up around the small but jam-packed arena.
This image has acted as a microcosm for the issues faced by the Australian Open this year, with many arguing that the record attendances the tournament has enjoyed have actually detracted from the experience.
How far do you think Novak Djokovic will go at the Australian Open?
Asked about the complaints, Novak Djokovic rebuffed them with a smile: “Having too much crowd on this or any other tennis tournament is a very good problem to have (smiling). I think there are much worse problems to have.
“I think every tournament wants record-breaking attendance and ticket sales. That’s what I’ve been hearing actually this year and the last couple years for most of the slams and tournaments.
“I mean, it’s a good sign. Obviously we want more attention, more people coming and wanting to watch the tennis live, follow it, livestream, et cetera.”
He did speak about a potential need for an expansion though, adding: “Obviously I don’t know the possibilities of further expanding the facilities or not. I’m not obviously familiar with that dynamic. But I like what I have seen as evolution of this tournament. I like when the tournament is nurturing a mindset of always wanting to improve and get better in terms of facility, providing better conditions for players to practice, play, recover. That’s what I’ve been seeing.
“First time I came over to Australia, for the juniors, 2003 I think, something like that, 2005 for the professional event. I remember we were using the Gym B, as it was called, which was across the road.”
Djokovic had already impressed Martina Navratilova at the Australian Open this year, but his latest triumph was arguably a step up in quality.
Novak Djokovic’s third-round opponent at the Australian Open
Djokovic has sped through his opening two rounds with minimal fuss, but could face a significant hurdle if he is to continue that trend.
After all, in the third round he faces Botic van de Zandschulp, the man who knocked Carlos Alcaraz out of the US Open in 2024.
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Clearly boasting the firepower to challenge the world’s very best when on form, what makes this match-up even more frightening for the Serbian superstar is the fact that he also won their most recent clash at Indian Wells just last year.
Djokovic has performed admirably thus far to beat two far inferior opponents.
Now, he must exorcise his demons to maintain his fine form, as his search for a 25th major title continues.
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