The mysterious physical dip in the final Novak Djokovic refuses to explain
After a flawless start, Novak Djokovic’s level plummeted from “north to south” in the 2026 Australian Open final. Despite a visible physical decline, the 38-year-old Serb refuses to share any health details to ensure the credit remains solely with Carlos Alcaraz.
Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2026 | © PsNews / PsNewz
The opening thirty minutes of the final on Rod Laver Arena were a haunting reminder of Novak Djokovic’s absolute peak. The No 4 seed was ultra-dominant in the first set, serving at 91 percent on his first delivery and committing a meager four unforced errors. It was a level of tennis that seemed to suggest his 25th Grand Slam title was a foregone conclusion.
However, as the three-hour and two-minute battle progressed, the drive that had fueled his early lead began to dissipate. By the second set, his first-serve percentage plummeted to 56 percent, and the man who had looked untouchable began to struggle with his energy levels. While the sight of the physio on court during the match suggested a physical hurdle, Djokovic remained notably guarded about the specifics in his post-match address.
A sudden drop from north to south
The 38-year-old veteran was candid about the fluctuation in his performance but steadfast in his refusal to cite health as an excuse, during the post-match press conference. “I mean, look, I never like to talk about things that, you know, I go through physically or health-wise, because it’s going to come across as I’m looking for excuses and taking away the credit of the winner, so it’s not going to change this time”, Djokovic stated.
He described a jarring shift in momentum that occurred early in the second set, noting, “I knew what I needed to do, but just some things happened, and my energy, my level went completely down from north to south in two games”. Despite a late surge in the fourth set where he managed to recuperate and kind of feel re-energized, the early dominance of that 91 percent first-set masterclass could not be recovered.
The refusal to offer an excuse
The mystery of the physical collapse remains one the 10-time champion forbids himself from explaining. When pushed on whether certain physical factors influenced the turnaround, he was blunt: “No, I’m not going to share”.
My forehand broke down in important moments. That’s what happened
This ‘omertà’ serves a clear purpose: to protect the integrity of Carlos Alcaraz’s victory. “I’m just going to congratulate Carlos. He was the deserved winner on the court today”, he insisted. “Pundits like Mats Wilander observed a noticeable drop-off in the Serb’s baseline coverage and service velocity, yet Djokovic preferred to focus on his own tactical breakdown. “Yeah, just a bad miss at 4-All and break point, and that forehand, I had a good look at that forehand. Yeah, my forehand broke down in important moments. That’s what happened.”
This latest struggle follows a series of varying statements from the Serb regarding his fitness in recent months. In late 2025, Djokovic admitted to being “more concerned than (he has) ever been”, stating he was “trying to rebuild (his) body to keep it up with the best guys after a year of recurring muscle tears”.
By the start of the 2026 season, he had shifted to a more optimistic tone, claiming to be in my best physical shape in a long time and feeling better than ever during the early rounds in Melbourne. However, the reality of the 2026 final echoed his mid-2025 admission that the wear and tear on the body all these years is taking a toll, where he confessed to going into matches with the tank half empty.
