Novak Djokovic's ego will tell him he can beat Carlos Alcaraz at Australian Open, believes French tennis legend

Two years have gone by, and Novak Djokovic is still chasing the elusive 25th Grand Slam title. His hunger and motivation, even at this age, are a testament to his age and even after not making the finals of any Grand Slam in 2025, the Serb is motivated to compete at the upcoming Australian Open.

Former French tennis player Guy Forget explains the reason behind Djokovic's competitiveness, noting his hunger and self-belief are the prime ingredients, why he continues despite being behind against top-ranked players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

“I think Novak can no longer prepare the way he did in the past, due to his age, the difficulty, and the amount of training he put himself through all those years," Forget said in an interview with Tennis Actu. "Firstly, because his body could give out, so he has to be very careful with his recovery, with the little niggles that are starting to pop up here and there.

"But his motivation is still there: I think if he's playing this tour again, it's because he feels capable. I don't see him playing the Australian Open hoping to reach a quarter-final or semi-final. He must be convinced that he can still, with a bit of luck and a good draw, reach the semi-finals with relatively little fatigue in his legs; he must think that he's capable, in a single match, of perhaps beating Carlos Alcaraz. In reality, it will be difficult, certainly, but in his champion's mindset, with his ego, I think he's convinced of it."

Novak Djokovic last won a Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open. He made great strides in 2025, reaching the semifinal of every Grand Slam, but he has faced defeats against Sinner or Alcaraz in every one of them.

Novak Djokovic confirms Adelaide participation before Australian Open

Novak Djokovic is a decorated star in Melbourne Park, having won a whopping 10 Grand Slams in the Australian Open. Over the years, the Serb has used different tournaments as a warm-up to the Grand Slam event, featuring at the United Cup in 2024 and the Brisbane International in 2025.

However, in 2026, Djokovic chose to participate in the Adelaide International instead of the Australian Open. Djokovic won the ATP tournament back in 2023, and it was also the same year when the Serb last won his 10th Australian Open.

It remains to be seen if Djokovic can mimic his 2023 season and finally win his 25th Grand Slam.