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Novak Djokovic: if healthy, can make a run at 2018 Australian Open

By Harry Floyd

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during the Gentlemen's Singles quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of The Czech Republic on day nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during the Gentlemen's Singles quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of The Czech Republic on day nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Novak Djokovic is a six-time champion at the Australian Open. If he is healthy, he can without a doubt make another run in 2018.

Novak Djokovic must be healthy enough to compete if he hopes to make another run at the 2018 Australian Open. The Serbian is a six-time winner in men’s singles at the major tournament.

Since the quarterfinals at Wimbledon 2017, Djokovic has been missing time due to an ongoing elbow injury. He remains hopeful of his return in the coming weeks to the ATP World Tour.

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Roger Federer is the defending champion at the Australian Open. He and Rafael Nadal are the early favorites to win the major tournament this coming year. Djokovic, however, is right in the mix so long as he is healthy enough to compete.

The 2017 ATP World Tour saw a high number of injuries to top players in men’s singles tennis.

Djokovic last won the Australian Open in 2016. He went back-to-back with titles at Melbourne park in 2015 and 2016. Having dominated the event in the last decade, he must be considered a top contender.

Federer will enter the 2018 ATP World Tour as the world No. 2 just behind Nadal. The two tennis greats traded Grand Slam titles in the last year. While they are the favorites moving forward, the return of Djokovic, Andy Murray, and others makes things interesting on tour. It is difficult to say just how ready players like Djokovic will be with so much time off.

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Until this past year, Novak Djokovic was on track to challenge Federer for career Grand Slams. With 12 Grand Slam titles already to his name, Djokovic still stands a chance to challenge the likes of Federer and Nadal if he can rebound from injury. The rising generation of young stars on tour will also spice things up for players such as Nole. The road to a Grand Slam title is not getting any easier on the ATP World Tour. Play at Melbourne Park is right around the corner. Djokovic must continue his offseason preparation for the upcoming season. He is the current world No. 12 in men’s singles tennis, but should rise quickly in the rankings if he proves himself to be healthy. Stay tuned to see how the Serbian tennis star fares in the coming weeks and months.

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