Serena Williams' ex-coach makes his feelings known on Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz Australian Open blockbuster

Novak Djokovic is through to the second week of the Australian Open after a really strong showing against Jiri Lehecka, who came into the contest without having lost a single match so far in 2025. With Djokovic set to take on Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, famed tennis coach Rick Macci has weighed in with his opinion.

While Djokovic was the favorite, very few people expected him to win as easily as he did because Lehecka not only played well but actually said before the match that he was feeling very confident about it. None of that mattered because Djokovic completely outplayed him from start to finish, pocketing the match in straight sets.

He didn't face problems in either of the sets, even though the final one did end up being a tiebreak. Following that win and yet another second week in Melbourne, famed tennis coach Rick Macci, who coached many players including Serena Williams, hailed Djokovic's mindset as the pivotal characteristic that has allowed the Serbian to be as dominant as he's been in tennis. He wrote on X:

"What I love most about Novak is his Mindset. Sure he is rock solid great mover and the rubber band man. But why he is the goat and in the past only by a FEW INCHES. But now HEAD AND SHOULDERS he is the best of the rest and it is from EAR TO EAR."

The "greatest of all time" question is very contentious in tennis because it's difficult to form an opinion without biases, which we all have. Technically, Djokovic is the consensus greatest of all time due to the sheer amount of achievements and records broken, though it wasn't always so. As Macci pointed out, what he has done in the past few years made his case much stronger, and he keeps adding to it.

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Career-defining quarterfinal vs Alcaraz looming for Djokovic

One thing that could further cement his legacy in the sport is if he could win the tremendously historic 25th Grand Slam trophy. No player, male or female, has ever won 25, as Djokovic is now tied with Margaret Court with 24 Grand Slams. To win 25, he needs to beat Carlos Alcaraz, who is also trying to win his maiden Australian Open.

It's a pivotal match for both players because both could make history if they win it. For Alcaraz, it's about completing the career Grand Slam and becoming the youngest tennis player to have ever done it. For Djokovic, it's about possibly going on to win the 25th Grand Slam, which would be iconic in itself.

Rick Macci further added on X:

"On paper Alcaraz is the favorite. On court Joker is the goat. On the big points whoever blinks the least THERE IS NO DEBATE a semifinal berth will show us who in this slam is considered GREAT"

Djokovic leads the head-to-head 4-3 against Alcaraz, having beaten the Spaniard in their last meeting in the final of the 2024 Paris Olympics.