“To beat Sinner and Alcaraz in back-to-back matches is tough, nigh on impossible" - Sky Sports commentator delivers reason why 25th Grand Slam for Djokovic is unlikely

Despite his age and the fact that he has achieved pretty much everything the sport has thrown at him, Novak Djokovic is still soldiering on in tennis at the highest level, with the Australian open proving that he is still capable of competing with the best in the world.

Riding his luck at times, the two-time reigning champion Jannik Sinner was taken down in a remarkable match of tennis which lasted over five sets and saw the 38-year-old roll back the years as he produced his best level on the biggest stage to take down the tournament favourite in many people's eyes while turning around his prior poor form against the Italian.

He was not able to topple the world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the final, but he has proved that he can still rise to the level to defeat the best players in the world. Sky Sports Tennis lead commentator Jonathan Overend has restrained his opinions on this slightly, not getting caught up in the hype train and trying to look at it from a more realistic point of view amid his past results against the big two.

“Djokovic is the next best to Alcaraz and Sinner and at the age of 38, that is a frightening thought and highlights what he is still doing,” Overend said in an interview with Tennis365.

In another reality, Alexander Zverev defeats Alcaraz in the semi-final and sets up that final against the Serbian. In that matchup, Overend sided with Djokovic taking victory. “I suppose the question now is, was that the moment? Was that the opportunity? Is that what he needed? You look at the chance he had. Sinner was out and Zverev was so close to beating Alcaraz in his semi-final. If Djokovic played Zverev in the final, he is probably favourite to win that match."

However, to win a Grand Slam these days, there is a huge chance that you will have to face both Alcaraz and Sinner. Djokovic did this last year, defeating the Spaniard in Melbourne before faltering against them in the semi-finals of the other three major events. A task seen as 'impossible' from Overend's point of view, even for a 24-time Grand Slam champion.

“To beat Sinner and Alcaraz in back-to-back matches is tough, nigh on impossible." Even so, there was enough evidence from those matches to show why he is still taking to the court. "But that tournament tells you all you need to know about why he is still going.”

One of the most asked questions surroundings men's tennis is who will be the next player to branch out and join the big two in competing for Grand Slam titles and other huge honours. The Brit included Djokovic in the new big three, with him admitting that there is a long gap behind from them to the chasing pack.

“You look at Alexander Zverev serving for the match against Alcaraz at the Australian Open and you have to say he was so close and yet still so far away,” he continued. “In a way, it was predictable what happened in that service game and that told me he is still so far away from breaking his duck, which is why I say Djokovic is still the main challenger to Alcaraz and Sinner."

While the likes of Alcaraz may have been vulnerable to an early exit in the past, this trend has slowed down drastically in recent times. “You’re looking at players who can disrupt, who can get a win, you know, a bit like [Botic] van de Zandschulp against Alcaraz a couple of years ago [at the US Open], even though admittedly Alcaraz now has stabilised in the early rounds of Slams."

Even so, he still holds the opinion that they are at most threat at the start of a tournament compared to nearer the business end. “You’re thinking, who could take Alcaraz or Sinner out early? And is that more likely than a Zverev, for example, winning at the back end of a Slam? I still think that is more likely,

Finally, he diverted all the pressure to the younger generation of tennis players coming through who will be looking to close the crater between them and the world number one and two, with it possibly unclear to tennis fans who the next big threat will be. “I think the pressure is on those younger players coming through. The big challenger to Sinner Alcarez? We might not know about them yet.”