John McEnroe

Novak Djokovic, 2026 | © AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayak/ SIPA

Novak Djokovic: “This win almost equals winning a Grand Slam”

Following a historic five-set victory over Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic reflects on defying the "experts" who tried to retire him, his strategic recovery for the final, and why this semifinal stands as his finest performance in years. This is most of the quotes Novak delivered at the flash quotes spot in Melbourne after 2:00 am.

Cédric Rouquette

January 30, 2026

January 17, 1982: The day head-hunting Lendl won the most dramatic duel with Gerulaitis

Every day, Tennis Majors takes you back in time to look back at an important moment in tennis history. On this day in 1982, Vitas Gerulaitis was in the driver's seat against Ivan Lendl in the 1982 Masters Cup Final in New York, but things fell apart after the American made a move he'd forever regret

John McEnroe

Novak Djokovic: “This win almost equals winning a Grand Slam”

January 17, 1982: The day head-hunting Lendl won the most dramatic duel with Gerulaitis

January 15, 1981: The day ice-man Bjorn Borg lost his cool

January 14, 1979: The day John McEnroe became the youngest winner of the Masters Cup

January 10, 1982: The day Connors and McEnroe nearly come to blows in Chicago

December 12, 1981: The day John McEnroe almost had a fight with his own Davis Cup captain

December 10, 1978: The day 19-year-old John McEnroe single-handedly crushed Great Britain in the Davis Cup final

December 4, 1985: The day John McEnroe was enraged by Zivojinovic’s sandwich break

November 12, 1978: The day John McEnroe beat Bjorn Borg for the first time

November 4, 1984: The day John McEnroe threw one of his most famous tantrums in Stockholm

October 22, 1985: The day Arthur Ashe resigned as the US Davis Cup captain

October 7, 1999: The day John McEnroe started his Davis Cup captaincy by offending Zimbabwe, his team’s first opponents

October 3, 1982: The day John McEnroe sealed a place in the Davis Cup final, after an endless journey and plane scare

October 1, 1983: The day John McEnroe became the most successful Davis Cup player in the history of the United States

September 17, 1994: The day Vitas Gerulaitis tragically died in his sleep from carbon monoxide poisoning

August 30, 1986: The day McEnroe and Fleming were defaulted from the US Open for being late

August 30, 1979: The day McEnroe and Nastase played one of the most tumultuous matches in tennis history

August 23, 1977: The day Bjorn Borg became world No 1 for the first time

July 26, 1999: The day Pat Rafter began the shortest stint as world No 1

July 24, 1987: The day Boris Becker edged John McEnroe after a six hour, 21-minute marathon