"Even if he improves, he's getting older": Novak Djokovic Golden Slam pursuit unlikely believes Alex Corretja

Novak Djokovic winning the Golden Slam would be 'surprising' admits Alex Corretja as the 24-time Grand Slam champion gears up to try and win one of the only accolades still not ticked off on his list of record breakers.

Djokovic likely will have the last chance to achieve this feat in 2024, but the interesting part is that he has tried for the Calendar Slam for a long time and not got there. So he will aim to win all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic Gold medal also an elusive part of his collection next year. But instead of past failure in doing so being an issue, Corretja believes it is down to him getting older.

“I think that would be a little bit surprising [to win a Golden Slam] because even if he improves his game so much, he’s getting older,” Corretja told Eurosport.

“It’s normal that he is getting older and the recovery is not the same. But at the same time, he’s got the experience and he’s just focused on the important tournaments and the ones that he feels are going to make a difference in his life. I’m sure that he’s going to keep on winning Slams, but it’s going to be tougher and tougher and he knows that.”

But despite seeing his Golden Slam chances as slim, Corretja is still picking Novak Djokovic to pick up the first. That being the Australian Open.

“He is the main favourite; I think it’s going to be one of the most [exciting] Australian Open’s we had in the last few years, because we have several players that can do very well and are playing their best, physically.

“They’re growing, they’re getting stronger. And mentally, it is pretty much the first time you have players who believe they can do well in a best-of-five Slam, and sustain their level for a long time.”