Two-time Grand Slam winner Marat Safin thinks that former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will struggle to compete with Swiss great Roger Federer and reigning French Open champion Rafael Nadal when he will make his much anticipated comeback to the ATP circuit at the end of the year.
Safin, a former World No. 1 himself believes that Djokovic, who is known as the Serbinator for his ability to decimate his opponents, will not be able to challenge the two top-ranked players at the moment as he will not be at his peak physical fitness after undergoing elbow surgery in the summer of 2017.
Safin said: “The next season Nadal and Federer will always be in the lead, while I do not see Djokovic able to return to very high levels, for him it will be a difficult situation.”
However, Safin insisted that two-time Wimbledon champ Andy Murray will be in contention for big titles next year if he is fully fit. But, he stressed that if Nadal and Federer remained injury free in 2018, it will be extremely difficult for the Briton to claim any of the four Majors or even the Masters 1000 events.
Safin added: “Murray will have some highs and lows. But if Nadal and Federer do not [get] hurt, he will not be able to do anything.”
The Russian’s comments came after former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski echoed the same sentiments in October. Rusedski said: “Murray, for me, it’s not mental, it’s physical. If the body comes back and the hip is fine and he can get himself physically fit again, and everything is firing, he will be in the mix to win majors again.”
“Djokovic, for me, however, with the elbow injury – it’s such a mental question mark. He was the best player bar none when he held all the four majors [at the same time] – which no player had done since Rod Laver.”
“The fall from grace he has had has been incredible – that to me is mental and that can be more difficult [to overcome] sometimes than a physical injury.”
