Novak Djokovic continues to look like the all-time champion at the Australian Open, with his 399th Grand Slam victory over Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli. The fourth seed advanced to the third round with a clinical 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory, keeping his quest for a record 11th title at Melbourne Park and a 25th Grand Slam trophy firmly on track. While the Serb’s dominance on the pitch grabbed the headlines, it was John McEnroe’s measured reaction to Nole’s performance that sparked the conversation.
Speaking on TNT Sports, the American legend offered a measured but slightly critical assessment of Djokovic’s performance. “I’ve probably watched him play about a thousand times, so that would be on the lower echelon of impressed, but I don’t think it matters.” McEnroe added that Djokovic seemed unusually irritable, even in a match that never seemed in danger. “He did what he had to do, and he did it several hundred times. He’s fine. He seemed a little irritable for some reason. I’m not sure why, because it was never close.”
Advertisement
But the 66-year-old tennis legend was very impressed by the longevity and physical level of Novak Djokovic at 38 years old. “He looked incredible at 38, I’ll tell you that. Winning early is the biggest factor.” However, he also warned that efficiency early in the round does not always guarantee optimal performance later in the tournament, referencing Djokovic’s experience at the US Open.
“If you’re one of the top players, you don’t want to play a few best-of-five-set matches in the first week, and your energy is gone by the second week.” Last year, Novak Djokovic was eliminated from each of the four SF majors. Three of those losses came against Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz.
As a result, following his exit from the 2025 US Open, the Serbian also provided an honest assessment of his performances at major tournaments over the past two years. “I’ve lost three out of four Grand Slams in the semi-finals to these guys, so they’re just too good, playing at a very high level… best-of-five makes it very, very difficult for me to play them, especially if it’s the Grand Slam finals.”
Advertisement
Although Novak Djokovic made a strong start at the 2026 Australian Open, a few question marks remain over whether he will finally manage to win his 25th major title here or not. John McEnroe also shared his opinion on this matter.
John McEnroe and Boris Becker share their thoughts on Novak Djokovic’s AO chances in 2026
Novak DjokovicAO’s campaign continues to gain momentum, with the 38-year-old looking sharp and calm from the opening rounds of the tournament. After his second-round victory, Djokovic reflected on the contrasting playing conditions between his first two matches, highlighting how many adjustments had been necessary.
“It felt like two completely different tournaments being played at night (first round) and day today, especially with the wind which I think blew this year more than any other year I’ve played here in Australia. I have to adjust to that and adapt to a different opponent with a big serve, but overall it’s good. I’m happy with the way I’m moving and hitting the ball.”
Advertisement
He needed seven set points to secure a 47-minute first set in his last match. Djokovic remained firmly in control from the baseline and delivered a dominant serving performance, winning 86% of his first serve points (43/50). His straight-sets victory against Maestrelli further underlined his authority.
However, reactions to Novak Djokovic’s long-term title prospects have been mixed, with John McEnroe and Boris Becker offering contrasting perspectives. The American expressed skepticism about Djokovic’s ability to defeat younger rivals like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in back-to-back matches at the heart of a Grand Slam. “In his heart of hearts, and in my opinion, no. I don’t think he can beat those two guys when he’s already played five matches, that’s the problem. That’s the reality he talked about.”
Becker, on the other hand, struck a much more optimistic tone, praising Djokovic’s efficiency and freshness so far in Melbourne. “Everything is going perfectly for him. His problem in previous Grand Slam tournaments was that he was already physically exhausted before the semi-finals. That doesn’t seem to be the case at the moment. He is visibly very relaxed after his victory in the second round.” Boris Becker also praised Djokovic’s service delivery and overall sharpness after a long break from competition.
He further emphasized that Novak Djokovic’s experience and hunger could keep him competitive against the new generation of the sport. “I mean, he’s won the tournament 10 times. If there’s one guy who knows how to win in Melbourne, it’s Novak Djokovic.”
Advertisement
John McEnroe shared his thoughts on Djokovic’s 11th A.O. the title race, just like Boris Becker. But what do you think?
The position Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open exit draws backlash from John McEnroe: ‘He seemed a little irritable’ appeared first on EssentiallySport.
