Djokovic repeats the story of Federer and Nadal at the Australian Open: Three champions who rose from their ashes

Federer, Nadal y Djokovic they are not doubtful of the talent they treasure. Among their innumerable conquests we find tournaments in which they have devastated, delighted and also sweated. But the great champions also prove themselves in the face of adversity. And they have done it in spades.

Federer a 2017

first it was roger the one that in July 2016 had before its eyes the first threat of withdrawal. It was after Wimbledon when the Swiss, operated on his meniscus At the beginning of the year, he saw how, after a bad rehabilitation, he had to stop without a return date and say goodbye to a season with the Rio Olympics in between. How was she going to come back on her way to her 36 years?

After five months of recovery, with much to lose and very little to gain, Federer made his big comeback at the 2017 Australian Open. 17th seed, without competition rhythm, physically impaired, went to five sets against Nishikori in the round of 16. And he passed. He went to five sets with Wawrinka in the semis. and got into the final. Getting to her was already a heroic act.

And in the final he faced a Nadal much closer -as they say now- to his ‘prime’. And, how could it be otherwise, they went to five sets. And he won it. The Swiss screamed then as we had never seen him do it before. For many, the best game of his career for all that the road meant. A genius ahead of his two great rivals. That’s Roger.

Christmas in 2022

As Federer did, he too was on his way to 36, with a lot to lose and very little to gain, Rafa reappeared at the 2022 Australian Open. rooms, where the inconvenience they called back to his body. He resisted in five sets against Shapovalov and then rushed in four against Berrettini to return to the end It seemed immortal.

Nadal has never been good at Australia, a reality compared to other tournaments. That is why there was no better possible scenario to lift his 21st Grand Slam and become, at that time, a the best tennis player in history. He did it by coming back from two sets to Medvedev, with an intelligent machine that gave him a 4% chance of victory. Something unimaginable for all but one. That was Rafael.

Djokovic in 2023

Djokovic’s case is somewhat different. Unique to be exact. Covid vaccines arrived and the Serb was not vaccinated. An act of vindication that left him out of an Australian Open that ended up repatriating him. Nole was taken out of the country as a criminal. The Serbian endured criticism of all kinds while working in silence and receiving the ‘no’ from more than half of the tournaments on the circuit.

He did not give up and at the end of the course his return to Melbourne began to become clear. No one had won there more times than him. And it came back. Touched in the soul but with more desire than ever to show that he was still the King. But at 35 years old the Serbian was not going to be exempt from injuries. It was in the second round when he, lame, beat an unknown Enzo Couacaud with difficulty. “He will not be able to win the tournament like this,” said the experts.