Stubbs: Only Djokovic can challenge Sinner’s position, and only at the Australian Open can he possibly defeat Sinner.

Recently, Stubbs, former world No.1 in doubles and Serena Williams’ former coach, openly expressed on a podcast that despite Alcaraz and Sinner’s combined dominance in men’s tennis, Djokovic at age 38 remains the only player with the potential to disrupt their reign — and that potential may be limited to the Melbourne hard courts.

At this year’s Australian Open, Djokovic delivered an iconic victory over world No.3 Alcaraz in the men’s singles quarterfinals, proving he still possesses top-tier competitiveness in Grand Slam tournaments. This win marked his most significant Grand Slam triumph since defeating Medvedev to claim the 2023 US Open title.

Facing the reality that Alcaraz and Sinner have collectively secured eight Grand Slam titles over the past two years, former doubles world No.1 Stubbs put forward a clear viewpoint: Djokovic is currently the only player capable of reversing this situation.

On the podcast, Stubbs explained her perspective, believing that Djokovic is currently focusing all his energy on the 2026 Australian Open, aiming for one last major push in his career.

“I don’t think he cares about the ATP Finals; clearly, he didn’t participate. I believe he will give his all for one final effort to win the Australian Open,” Stubbs said.

Stubbs particularly emphasized the strategic importance of the Australian Open for Djokovic. She noted that Alcaraz has never reached the final there, while Djokovic defeated him at that venue last year.

“Carlos has never made it to the final there. Novak beat him last year, with one set being very competitive, but overall Novak was stronger,” Stubbs analyzed.

Djokovic holds a record of 10 Australian Open titles, a feat former player Petkovic described as “insane!” She believes the only comparable achievement in the same category is Nadal’s 14 French Open titles.

For Djokovic, Melbourne Park is indeed his most successful stronghold, having won four of the last five Australian Open championships held there.

Although optimistic about Djokovic’s chances at the Australian Open, Stubbs also soberly acknowledged the challenges ahead. She specifically mentioned that Sinner will be striving for a third consecutive Australian Open title next year, making Djokovic’s quest even tougher.

“I don’t think he can beat someone like Jannik on court; I believe Jannik is already too strong on the court, but this might be the only place where Novak can win,” Stubbs admitted.

Opinions among netizens and fans are clearly divided on whether Djokovic can challenge the dominance of the “new duo.”

Some fans believe Djokovic’s experience and Australian Open record cannot be overlooked. “In Australia, that’s where he’s best at winning titles; no one can underestimate him there, even though he lost to Sinner in the semifinals this year,” commented one fan.

Others tend to accept the arrival of a new era. “On hard courts, his biggest issues now are fitness and injuries; clay courts are becoming increasingly difficult and tiring for him, while at Wimbledon, he can finish matches early with fewer shots, saving energy,” one fan analyzed Djokovic’s current technical challenges.

There are even views that even if Djokovic breaks through, it might be just a fleeting moment. “If he really wins the Australian Open, I hope he (retires) and puts down the microphone,” a fan quoted Petkovic’s opinion, expressing hope for a dignified end to Djokovic’s career.

Besides Stubbs, other tennis figures have also commented on this dynamic. Former player Petkovic believes that for Djokovic, Australia and London are the easiest places to achieve his 25th Grand Slam title dream.

“Obviously, for Djokovic now, apart from the Australian Open and Wimbledon, he looks down on any other tournament,” Petkovic said. She predicted Djokovic will use “everything left in his lovely 40-year-old body” to try to win one of these events, aiming to claim his 25th Grand Slam before retiring.

As the 2026 Australian Open approaches, whether Djokovic can break the “Sinka” monopoly at Melbourne Park will be a crucial window to observe if a power shift in men’s tennis is possible.

Regardless of the outcome, this 24-time Grand Slam champion’s late-career challenge to the new generation of rulers already forms a captivating chapter in tennis history.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Lu Xiaotian)