"Myself always first": Novak Djokovic says the biggest threat at Australian Open is himself over anyone else

Novak Djokovic remarked in a press conference that he considers himself his greatest threat in the tournament. The Serbian arrives as the all-time record holder at the Australian Open, having secured the championship in the last four editions he played (he missed the 2022 event due to entry restrictions amid the pandemic).

Just a day before his debut in the first Grand Slam of the year, Djokovic acknowledged the strength of his competitors, emphasizing that all 128 players in the tournament dream of winning a Grand Slam. The world No. 1 is set to face Dino Prizmic (No. 178) in the first round, a qualifier making his way into the main draw. This match marks Djokovic's first appearance since the painful defeat against Alex De Minaur in the United Cup, which resulted in Serbia's elimination from the team event.

Despite some physical discomfort experienced during the match with De Minaur, Djokovic expressed confidence in his performance for the upcoming tournament. During the press conference, a journalist posed the question to Djokovic: “Who do you consider your biggest threat in this tournament?”

“Myself always first, & then of course all the other best players in the world. Any player is here with, I'm sure, intention to achieve the dream of winning a Grand Slam,” 24-times Grand Slam champion said.

“Some players are obviously more expected to go further than some others. It's 128 draw. It's a Grand Slam. We know what a Grand Slam represents for our sport. It's where every player wants to play their best tennis. Yeah, it's exciting to be a part of another Slam,” he added.

Regarding his injury, Djokovic assured that he is in good physical condition and ready to kick off the tournament: "I had time from the last match against De Minaur in the United Cup to my first match here to recover," 'Nole' stated. "I've been training well. Practice sessions are pain-free so far. It's all looking good. Let's see how it goes," Djokovic added.

"It's not as bad as some of the other injuries I had here," Djokovic said. "I can't predict whether it's going to come back. Once I start playing more matches, the stress levels go higher. I don't know. We have to find out."