Novak Djokovic has never been shy about his goals in Melbourne. On Saturday, January 17, the 38-year-old 24-time Grand Slam champion sat down in the Australian Open press room and did two things at once: he admitted his body isn’t quite humming yet, and he made it clear he still wants another shot at Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on the sport’s biggest stage.

It was frank and familiar in equal measure. “I’m missing a little bit of juice in my legs,” Djokovic said, a nod to the time he’s taken off since November. But the message was also firm: “When I’m healthy, when I’m able to put all the pieces of the puzzle together on a given day, I feel like I can beat anybody.”

Australian Open 2026: Fitness check, clear mission

Djokovic withdrew from the Adelaide warm-up last week, saying his body was not ready to compete. He has not played a match since lifting his 101st ATP trophy in Athens in early November 2025. That downtime was by design. “I took some time off, and obviously took more time to rebuild my body,” he explained. “In the last couple of years, it takes more time to rebuild, and it also takes more time to reset or recover.”

That honesty sets the frame for this campaign. He is the fifth seed in Melbourne, stepping into his 21st Australian Open main draw, with an opening test against Spain’s Pedro Martinez on Monday. A possible third-round date with American Brandon Nakashima looms, a reminder that even with a higher seed, there are no easy lanes.

“If Djokovic finds the legs by week two, who stops him?”

Chasing history: 24 and counting in Melbourne

As ever in Melbourne, history is never far away. Djokovic already owns 10 Australian Open titles and 24 Grand Slams overall. A win this fortnight would be his 11th crown at Melbourne Park and his 13th major since turning 30 — a staggering number for any athlete, in any era. He first won here in 2008. If he lifts the trophy again, it would come 18 years after that first triumph. Djokovic smiled when the number came up: “24 is not a bad number.”

For all the debates about “greatest ever,” it is this city where Djokovic has been most unbeatable. The Rod Laver Arena stage, the night air, the rhythm of best-of-five matches — these are his elements. That aura is part of every opponent’s calculation, even if his ranking of five hints at vulnerability.

Alcaraz and Sinner: The new rulers, the old master

Djokovic did not sugarcoat 2025: he lost three of the four majors in straight-sets semifinals to either Alcaraz or Sinner. The exception came in Melbourne, where he beat Alcaraz in the quarterfinals before an injury forced him out of the semis. “We know how good they are, and they absolutely deserve to be where they are,” he said. “They are the dominant forces of men’s tennis at the moment. I’m still trying to be in the mix.”

That phrase — “in the mix” — matters. It says he respects the shift at the top, yet still backs his own ceiling. The opening week will be about building that ceiling higher, match by match, without burning energy. “My priority is really taking care of my body,” he said. “Treat every match like it’s finals, but at the same time, build momentum and also not spend unnecessary energy.”

“Alcaraz and Sinner may own the moment, but Melbourne has always felt like Novak’s court.”

Draw outlook: Early hurdles before the storm

Pedro Martinez is a steady first-rounder who can make points long. For Djokovic, that could be both a test and a tool. If the legs need rhythm, longer rallies can help him play into form — so long as he keeps control and avoids sudden sprints that tax the body. Nakashima, should that third-round meeting arrive, brings clean hitting and a calm temper. He does not blink much. He will make Djokovic hit through him.

But seeds, draws, and forecasts often fade once Djokovic finds his timing. The key is not the names on the draw sheet, but how quickly he feels his feet under him when the lights go on.

The method: Manage the load, trust the edge

Djokovic’s plan is simple and proven. Keep points organized. Serve smart. Lean on return games to squeeze early breaks. Then, use the lead to manage court time. He hinted at that balance: gratitude for a good seed, but no change to how he approaches the Slam. The mission is to arrive in week two with confidence in the legs and the lungs.

At 38, he knows the margins. “It takes more time to rebuild,” he said, and later, “I know that, when I’m healthy… I can beat anybody.” The second sentence matters more than the first. It’s the belief system behind every run he has made in Melbourne.

“Fifth seed or not, nobody wants Djokovic in their quarter.”

The bigger picture: What this run would mean

There is the obvious — an 11th Australian Open would push a record that already stands alone. But there is also the age curve. A 13th major after 30 would underline how he has bent time through smart scheduling and ruthless match habits. It would also punctuate the sport’s current storyline: the veterans may feel the squeeze of Alcaraz and Sinner, but they are not done yet.

He said it plainly: “Hopefully I can go far again and get a chance to play them.” Tennis wants those matches too. The game is richer when generations meet late in a Slam.

What to watch as play begins

• Movement in the corners: Does he slide and recover cleanly by the end of match one?
• Serve speeds and patterns: Can he buy free points to shorten service games?
• Rally tolerance: If the legs are short of “juice,” does he still build rallies with depth instead of pace alone?
• Energy spend: Quick finishes in the first week would be gold.

Monday’s opener against Martinez will offer early clues. The main draw starts January 18; Djokovic’s field knows his history here, and he knows exactly what this place brings out in him. If the body follows the mind, week two could again set the stage for the showdowns he wants most.

For now, the message from Melbourne is clear: the champion is managing the clock, picking his moments, and aiming straight at the two men who have defined the past year. If he can string together clean wins and find that missing “juice,” the road through Melbourne Park still runs through Novak Djokovic.