Novak Djokovic encounters few on-court novelties at this point in his career, but ringing in the new year with his compatriots surrounded by thousands of faithful followers at Perth’s RAC Arena comes as a welcome surprise.
There were no signs of rust in the 36-year-old’s clinical straight-sets dismissal of China’s big-striking Zhang Zhizhen at the United Cup, before he steered the ship home alongside Olga Danilovic in a deciding mixed doubles with just seven minutes left on the clock before midnight.
“It's a great start of the season. Wonderful way to celebrate New Year's,” Djokovic said. “We have a saying in Serbia: if the entire year is going to be as kind as the sunrise or the first minute of the new year, then I think we're going to have a great season and great year, all of us.”
Introducing... TEAM SERBIA 🇷🇸
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 2, 2024
Spearheaded by the World No. 1 @DjokerNole, they will be hoping they can go all the way! 🏆💭#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/tN5ki6cDjZ
Teammate Danilovic declared her bucket-list item ticked off having now played and won a match alongside her nation’s greatest athlete. Questions invariably shifted to Djokovic’s goals for the season ahead.
“Obviously Grand Slams, Olympic Games, playing for my country, Davis Cup, all these competitions where you represent Serbia is the greatest honour and pleasure,” said Djokovic, who ended last season by winning a record seventh Nitto ATP Finals title.
“It's a very long year, season. I'll have to obviously work in a way step by step with my body to see how it feels, how I react when I change surfaces, what kind of schedule I need to have in order to peak at the right time in the biggest tournaments.”
Nothing was left to chance as the Serbian fine-tuned over time how he maximised chances of success on the biggest stages.
Even on the back of a year in which he reached all major finals and won three of them, the Serbian only dared rate it one of his best.
“Might seem unrealistic or impossible to some. It might seem arrogant to some others. I don't know,” he said. “I've always believed in myself very strongly. I know that I'm a very all-around player.
“When I'm fit, when I'm at the peak of my performance, I can win any Slam or any tournament. I know that. I'm not afraid to say that.
“It's not a secret that I want to break more records and make more history of the game. That's something that keeps on motivating me.”
Three times has the World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings reached all four major finals in the same season – including twice in the past three years – only to have fallen short at one stop.
It stood to reason he knew exactly what needed to be done to keep his body, mind and spirit aligned for the best opportunity to add further records.
“I feel like that kind of mentality, all I have been doing for the last 20-plus years on a daily basis, of course with my team and family, have helped me to reach the heights and be where I am,” he said. “That mentality is not changing for 2024 or any next year potentially that I play.”
Djokovic will continue to lead Serbia at the United Cup before he heads to Melbourne, where he will aim to win a record-extending 11th Australian Open title.
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