Exclusive | 'Title number 25 is Djokovic’s main motivation,but you wonder if age has caught up': Somdev Devvarman – Firstpost
Anyone who closely follows and covers top-level tennis will tell you that there is always a certain buzz around the Australian Open which is very different from the energy that one experiences when it comes to the other Grand Slams. It’s almost inevitable. The year’s first Slam is also a players’ favourite because a number of reasons – Australia’s overall outdoors culture, the immaculate way the Slam is organised year after year, the weather, the food, the people and more. It’s not a surprise therefore that the Australian Open is also tagged as ‘The Happy Slam’.
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Thanks to latest innovations and fan-engagement initiatives, like the one-point Slam (which was launched last year but was made bigger and better this year) and children under 12 being given free access to the grounds, the 2026 Australian Open saw a large crowd turnout, even before the main draw action began. As many as 29,261 fans went through the gates for the first day of qualifying – a fresh record. Tournament organisers, led by Director Craig Tiley (who came up with the one-point Slam idea to engage the Australian sports community and generate more interest in the tournament) are expecting about 300,000 fans to show up for the first week of main draw action.
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The year’s first Grand Slam, which has traditionally been extremely essential for the players, in terms of preparing themselves for the rigours of the whole season, is perhaps buzzing more than ever this year. But while some things might be different, what hasn’t changed are the questions that are being asked about who will victory the men’s and women’s singles titles, with the women’s field, as has been the case for a while, being quite open despite a couple of names leading the favourites’ race.
In the men’s draw, there are three massive questions. Will Jannik Sinner become the first player after Novak Djokovic to triumph three consecutive singles titles? Can Carlos Alcaraz victory his first Australian Open title to complete his career Slam?
Last, but not the least, does Novak Djokovic have one more Slam title left in him, which will see him overtake Margaret Court and become the solo record holder for the most number of singles Grand Slam titles, across the men’s and women’s games? Remember, he has been tied with Court on 24 singles Grand Slam titles since his victory at the 2023 US Open.
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Meanwhile in the women’s draw, the race for the title is likely to boil down to a toss-up between top seed Aryna Sabalenka, second seed Iga Swiatek and possibly Coco Gauff. But then again, anything can happen in the women’s draw.
To discuss some of these substantial talking points we spoke exclusively to former Indian professional tennis player, Somdev Devvarman. Som, who was one of a handful of players to make three consecutive NCAA (US Collegiate) tennis finals, winning two (2007 and 2008), played all four Grand Slams, in singles and doubles draws and went on to triumph the 2010 Commonwealth Games singles gold for India, along with three Asian Games medals, including two gold (one singles and one doubles) and one bronze (team medal). He is a recipient of the Arjuna award and the Padma Shri and is widely considered to be one of the sharpest tennis minds in the country and is a regular panellist and commentator for top tennis tournaments, including the Grand Slams.
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In this detailed interview, along with the huge player talking points, Som also sheds light on what Alcaraz’s split with his long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, who coached the world number one since he was 15, might mean for the Spaniard’s campaign and also what it means, mentally and psychologically, for the top guys to do well at the year’s first Grand Slam.
Excerpts…
Firstpost: Let’s begin with the women’s draw. Iga Swiatek recently expressed frustration saying she didn’t want to know who she has on her side of the draw, saying she doesn’t want anyone to “spoil” the Australian Open draw for her. You’ve seen the draw, what are some of the large talking points that you can think of?
Somdev Devvarman: I have heard a lot about (Iga) Swiatek and how tough her draw is. I don’t really see it that way. There’s a lot that has to happen, till we get to the third-fourth rounds. There is a lot of tennis that needs to be played. People forget sometimes that this is the first major of the year. There are a lot of question marks, for sure. But she (Swiatek) is number two in the world for a reason.
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I think that every match she goes into, at least till the Round of 16, she is going to be a heavy favourite and there are a lot of players like (Naomi) Osaka (four-time Grand Slam champion, 16th seed, who Swiatek could face in the fourth round) and (Liudmila) Samsonova (world number 18, who Switek could potentially face in the fourth round), who have a lot of work to do. And let’s not forget that we have historically seen that Swiatek – the deeper she gets into tournaments, the better she plays.
With her, a lot is going to come down to how she feels, how she executes, how she handles pressure and the (different) situations and if she really steps up to the plate. Also, in the bottom half, one wonders what kind of a year Amanda Anisimova (women’s fourth seed) is going to have, after an outstanding 2025 (finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open last year). Obviously, Madison Keys, the defending champion is in the fray as well, in the bottom half. It’s the women’s draw – every year we are kind of used to seeing a few surprises. The question is what part of the draw are they going to come from. The draw is pretty stacked.
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The top half, again, (Aryna) Sabalenka (women’s top seed, two-time Australian Open and four-time Grand Slam singles champion) is going to be hard to beat. (Emma) Raducanu (women’s 28th seed) is in that section, but she has a lot of work to do. Sabalenka ended 2025 as the world number one, she won in Brisbane recently (Sabalenka successfully defended her Brisbane title with a straight-sets victory over Marta Kostyuk, 6-4, 6-3). She beat Madison Keys (in the quarter-finals) and won Brisbane (International) pretty comfortably. Overall, you will have to say that she is the player to beat.
FP: Alright, let’s switch our focus now to the men’s draw. Your take on the massive talking points there…
SD: I don’t know how everyone else is seeing it, but the way I see it, two of the (big) talking points of the year are – how much are (Carlos) Alcaraz and (Jannik) Sinner going to dominate and does Novak (Djokovic) have it in him to conquest the next one (Grand Slam title)? It’s exciting. On the one hand, Sinner and Alcaraz are getting better and better. The records are showing that, their matches are showing that, their dominance is showing it. The fact that they have won the last eight majors between them (Sinner and Alcaraz have split every Grand Slam singles title between them since the 2024 Australian Open). It’s clear to see that they are at that stage of their careers, where they are rapidly improving and setting the bar very high for the rest of the tour.
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On the other hand, as a tennis romantic, you wonder if there is a little bit of magic left? Can Novak (Djokovic) do it again? I think a lot of people would love to see that. But it seems that time is not on his side right now. He had a few shots last couple of years and fell short (Djokovic’s last Grand Slam title triumph was at the 2023 US Open). And with all due respect, he is ageing. He is the greatest, so you hope and wonder if there’s a little bit of magic left? And if there is – will it need a little bit of assist? While you are looking at the draw for Novak, the first thing that comes up for me is – who are the guys who actually have the ability to beat him three out of five sets?
I think he is pretty glad with that first round draw (Djokovic vs Spain’s Pedro Martinez in the first round), (Terence) Atmane (semifinalist at the 2025 Canadian Open and potential second round opponent) has a lot of firepower, but again, three out of five sets – a completely different story. He probably loves the match-up against (Brandon) Nakashima (27th seed – first round exits at the Australian Open in 2022, 2023, 2025 – Djokovic’s potential third round opponent), against (Botic) van de Zandschulp (unseeded, world number 77 – potential third round opponent for Djokovic, made the third round of the Australian Open in 2022) and also Roberto Bautista Agut (who Djokovic could potentially play in the third round). So, it has to be a massive effort by someone like a (Jakub) Menšík (16th seed and potential fourth round opponent for Djokovic) or (Tallon) Griekspoor (23rd seed and potential fourth round opponent for Djokovic) to topple Novak in the early stages. Once he gets set – again, fitness is going to play a part, the older he gets, there is no question about it. How does he handle that?
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As far as Sinner is concerned, the first real test could be (Joao) Fonseca (28th seed – potential third round opponent for Sinner), should he get through to the third round. Sinner seems to be a favourite. And for Carlos, again, the first question is – is he going to success this (this edition of the Australian Open) to triumph his career Slam? (the Australian Open is the only Grand Slam Alcaraz hasn’t won yet). Who are the players who can beat him? There are quite a few interesting matches in that opening section, including (Michael) Zheng and (Sebastian) Korda (who are up against each other in the first round). Zheng is a very exciting modern player who has come through the college (NCAA) system. I don’t see how Alcaraz will be troubled too much against (Adam) Walton (first round), or against (Yannick) Hanfmann or (Zachary) Svajda (who play against each other in round one, with the winner to potentially face Alcaraz in round two).
The first substantial test is probably Tommy Paul (men’s 19th seed, could face Alcaraz in the fourth round). But then, a lot can happen before that because there is (Alejandro Davidovich) Fokina (men’s 14th seed), there is potentially (Alexander) Bublik (men’s 10th seed) after that. Bublik is playing fine tennis, but then again – three out of five sets – it will take a massive effort by someone to take Carlos out.
FP: So, staying with Carlos, as someone who has played all four Slams - why do you think he has never managed to go past the quarter-final stage at the Australian Open?
SD: (Laughs) That’s a puzzling one, isn’t it? It’s a great question. I think a little bit of that will have to do with who he plays. How he lost to Novak in 2025 in four sets (at the 2025 Australian Open quarter-finals, Djokovic beat Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4), which was an incredible match. I think it was one of the better matches that Novak played last year. In 2024, he (Alcaraz) lost to (Alexander) Zverev in four sets in the quarter-final (Zverev won that match 6-1 6-3 6-7, 6-4). In 2023, he (Alcaraz) didn’t play the Australian Open (withdrew due to a right leg injury).
You are talking about a guy who is only 22 and has only played the tournament three or four times (Alcaraz’s debut in the main draw of a Grand Slam, as a successful qualifier, was at the 2021 Australian Open). He lost to Matteo Berrettini in 2022 (the only 5-set match Alcaraz has lost at the Australian Open). Is he going to get past the quarter-finals in the future? Yes, 100 per cent. Is he going to victory it? Yes, 100 per cent. When? Again, it’s a little puzzling because he is so incredible on quick courts, on hard courts. It’s his favourite surface. The first Grand Slam he won was the US Open (hard-court tournament). He’s great on the quick stuff because he has won Wimbledon as many times as he has (twice – 2023 & 2024).
There have been tough matches in the last couple of years. The Zverev one (2024 quarter-finals) would have hurt him a little more (than the other losses). Against Novak he was a little outplayed and it was the early part of the season. But again, by his standards, he (Alcaraz) didn’t have a great start to the season and yet went on to success two Slams (won the French Open & Wimbledon in 2024). So, this guy is made of special stuff. It’s just a matter of time till he figures it out (how to success the Australian Open).
FP: Alcaraz’s split with Juan Carlos Ferrero, his coach since he was 15, and the fact that Samuel Lopez has been promoted to head coach in his team - do you think these changes will have any effect on his campaign this year?
SD: Possibly. These kinds of things come into play when you are in a tough situation and you are looking for that little bit of extra support, little bit of extra advice, a reliable kind of voice that you are used to. And maybe that will be missed. He (Alcaraz) is such an incredible player. Few people would have the kind of mental make-up to go past these things.
Last year we noted the same thing about (Jannik) Sinner. Will the doping ban have an effect on him? (Sinner was given a three-month doping ban in February 2025 after he tested positive for the banned steroid clostebol which entered his system accidentally through massages from his physiotherapist) and how hard will it be for him to play? Ask any expert and they will tell you that they thought that it would be very hard (for Sinner to get past this). And did he pass the test with flying colours? You tell me. It’s the most incredible season I have seen (Sinner won the Australian Open and Wimbledon last year and was runner-up at the French Open).
The major thing over here is that he (Alcaraz) is injury-free, he is playing exciting tennis. I am sure he is more pumped than anybody else to be back here, try and triumph this major and complete his career Slam and continue to do great things. That just seems like the path that he is on. So, while the coaching thing (split with Juan Carlos Ferrero) could be hard, I don’t think it will be hard for too long.
FP: For most people, in the men’s draw, it will be a toss-up between Sinner and Alcaraz for the men’s singles title – one looking for a third straight Australian Open title, the other for a career slam. Going by what you have seen of these two players over the last one year which player would you say is the technically more improved version of themselves right now?
SD: Well, one is a heavy, clean, massive ball-striker, moves really well, he has improved his serve. Sinner is coming in more, he is adding different elements to his event, which is making him tougher and tougher to play. And Carlos is doing it less mechanically, let’s say. But at the same time, at that age, the creativity is getting better, the hands, the feel, understanding situations, the bursts of energy, the explosiveness that he has on both sides, the shot-making abilities. And to add to all that – the solidity. I think that’s the (really) key thing when it comes to Carlos – he is improving all those parts of his match too.
So, it’s hard (to say who is the more improved player in the last one year), because it (their match styles) is so different. So, who is improving more? That’s anybody’s guess. Alcaraz won 71 matches last year and lost 9. That’s incredible. And the other guy (Sinner) lost 6 matches (Sinner had a 58–6 win-loss record in 2025, four of his six losses were against Alcaraz). Together they lost 15 matches – that’s a joke. And I do think that one’s improvement will push the other. We have seen it historically in the past – all the way back to John McEnroe (and his rivalry with Bjorn Borg) and even before that – Sampras-Agassi – in all the great rivalries we have seen in the last 20-30 years. We have seen how one’s success only pushes the other and that elevates the level of the entire tour.
So, it’s a toss-up. Your guess is as superb as mine. But the fact (is) that the two of them (Sinner and Alcaraz) have made massive, massive strides in very short periods of time. Not long ago, we were calling Sinner ‘the quarter-final man’. And just look at him now. Sinner has just elevated his competition and taken it to the next level – this is (all) in the last four-five years. So, it’s quite incredible – the level that both of them are at and the rate at which they are improving.
FP: They do have different playing styles and seem to be matching each other stride for stride…
SD: Yes. It’s a proper tug-of-war. It comes down to the day (who wins in a Sinner vs Alcaraz encounter)
FP: Alright, let’s shift our focus now to Djokovic. He is still looking for that 25th Slam title that will make him overtake Margaret Court and make him the all-time solo record holder for most singles Slam titles. At 38 and after having won everything that there is to victory in the singles match, including Olympic medals, do you think this is still his real driving force - title number 25?
SD: 100 per cent. I think there is no question about the fact that that’s his main (motivation). He has always been driven by these things and it has taken him to a novel level in so many different ways, looking for answers. 100 per cent he will be out there thinking that this is kind of the last dance. It’s close enough to it, right? Every time he steps on to court, in a major especially. So, is he going to have a better chance this year or the next? I think anybody will tell you it’s this year. But it’s Novak – we have seen him adapt before, we have seen him problem-solve before, but you just wonder if age has caught up.
FP: As a former professional player and someone who played in all four Slams, what would you say is it like to play at the year’s first Slam and, for the top guys, how substantial a shot in the arm is it to do well and potentially success a title at Melbourne Park, with the whole season ahead of them? Mentally and psychologically, what does it mean to excel at the year’s first Grand Slam, for the Slam favourites?
SD: For the top guys – huge. Because before you go into the French Open, there is a whole clay court swing – there are a massive number of events, various Masters series. Again, before America (US Open) – there are (tournaments in) Cincinnati, Toronto – on the hard courts and you see how the season has gone. Grass is also the same.
I was never one of the guys who went in there to win the tournament. I went in there to see what would happen, based on my draw and see if I could make a run and maybe even (win) a few matches. But for the top guys, the first thing you have to consider is the pre-season – the injuries, coaching changes – there is a lot of uncertain ground. Everyone is working on something recent. They have put on weight, lost weight, changed swings, changed service motions, maybe changed trainers and physios, someone who was injured had two months to recover.
There is a lot of excitement in the air, (with players thinking) – ‘what’s the season going to be like?’. To be honest with you – most people, pretty much everybody loves Australia. That makes it easy. Everyone is looking forward to the trip. It (the Australian Open) is a very well-run event. So, everyone enters this area with a level of excitement, knowing that – ‘if there ever was a time for me to play the bigger guys and take them out, Australia is a good place to do that’.
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