“Novak Djokovic against everyone else” – Brad Gilbert predicts how many Grand Slams tennis stars will win this year

High-profile former tennis player and coach Brad Gilbert has predicted how many Grand Slams world No. 1 Novak Djokovic will win this season after his Australian Open triumph.

The 35-year-old will find it difficult to win his third French Open title in a matter of months with great rival Rafael Nadal and rising star Carlos Alcaraz among the big-name contenders. While he didn’t specify which of the three remaining Grand Slams he thought Djokovic would win, Gilbert made an intriguing prediction.

“If I had to put an over-under, I’d say two and a half slams for him. He’ll get better at 35.

“I think before that it was all about Rafa [Nadal] and fed [Roger Federer] for him measure and improve them. The ‘Big 3’ pushed each other,” explained Gilbert.

“But now Djoker has gone to another level, I think, where he’s making these adjustments in his game [face] Tsitsipas and Alcaraz [and similar players], to all the young players pushing it forward. That’ll probably give his game more time in some ways.”

As the conversation on the podcast shifted to other areas, Gilbert and McEnroe compared to some extent the similarities and differences between Djokovic and other legends from different eras, Andre Agassi and Ivan Lendl.

“I really believe that if you put Andre Agassi and Ivan Lendl in the mixer, you get Novak Djokovic,” Gilbert said.

McEnroe agreed: “The only difference is that Djokovic is lightning fast.

“Both guys, Agassi and Lendl, were quick and could cover the space, but they weren’t lightning quick and as quick as Novak.”

“I want to say this, the guy is a freakin’ great tennis player, isn’t he?” Connors said in the latest episode.

“He’s not afraid to go out and play the game, his game. win or lose. He’s not afraid to risk it. He knows he has a direct hit on the back. Even more now.

“He’s not afraid of all these young people who’ve had some pretty good tournaments. But he’s not afraid of that. He’s playing the game, he’s not afraid to mix it up.

“He’s not afraid to take the ball early, he’s not afraid to get 20 balls to win a point. He’s not afraid to find a way to win – and for me I like to see that.”

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