'That’s the Reality of It': Pat Cash Casts Doubt Over Djokovic’s Australian Open Chances

The only ATP top 8 player we have yet to see on a tennis court in 2026, whether in official competition or exhibition, is none other than Novak Djokovic.

The former world No. 1 will enter the Australian Open looking to extend his record of 10 men’s singles titles at Melbourne Park, while also continuing his pursuit of a historic 25th Major crown.

While this scheduling is not unusual for Djokovic, he was set to play at the Adelaide Open this week before withdrawing due to physical issues. The Serbian explained that he wants to recover fully and be at 100 percent fitness before beginning his Australian Open campaign.

Pat Cash’s Reality Check

Despite not winning a Major title in the past few seasons, one could still argue that on a tournament-to-tournament basis, Djokovic has effectively been the third-best player in the world. The only roadblocks have been the rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the duo who have handed Djokovic five of his seven Slam losses since the start of 2024.

And now, Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash believes Djokovic’s only realistic chance of adding to his Slam tally depends on whether one or both of the younger superstars are eliminated before facing him.

“He needs two of them to fall over, that’s the reality of it. So I’m very, very interested to see how he goes. It’s a fine balance at the end of your career to find where you are training hard enough to be fit enough to last two, even three, five-set matches, but then not pushing it too far… I don’t see him beating Alcaraz and Sinner in back-to-back five-set matches and that’s his problem. He can get to the semi-final again, but then he is likely to have a familiar problem.”

Even Djokovic Admits the Challenge

Astonishingly, this is something Djokovic himself has more or less acknowledged. After his defeat in the US Open semifinals last year, he admitted that facing “SinCaraz” in best-of-five matches, given his age and accumulated wear and tear, represents an almost impossible task, while conceding that he still likes his chances far more in best-of-three formats.

But if history tells us anything about Novak Djokovic, it is that he thrives on challenges.

Between his offseason comments about rebuilding his physical base and his actions in strengthening his team with new specialist personnel, all signs point towards one final, calculated push.

Djokovic has never been one to fade quietly. As Melbourne approaches once again, it would be unwise to count him out just yet.