Andry Murray named his Australian Open 2024 winner between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz as the first Grand Slam of the new year is set to begin on January 14.
Murray, who reached the Australian Open’s final five times, backed Djokovic to clinch the title and extend his majors tally to 25, the most in the history of the game.
The Serb has 10 Australian Open to his name and will be aiming his 11th, on the other hand, Alcaraz never managed to taste glory Down Under since his debut.
"A lot of people were saying the landscape had shifted after Wimbledon and it didn't really shift. Novak won three slams and lost a five-set epic final at Wimbledon. I still believe that he's the favourite going in, but I would imagine - I mean he still looks great - but it probably doesn't get easier,” Murray said.
"I know it doesn't get easier the older you get but just based on what happened last year alone and the majors... The Davis Cup matches or the World Tour Finals are important events, of course they are, and I'm sure like for Sinner or some of the younger guys, that helps like with their belief when they go on court against him.
“I know that when the Australian Open rolls ran that it's not gonna be easy for those guys to win against Novak in a huge match because some of them are trying to do for the very first time, win a major for the very first time.
"Alcaraz was in that position going into Wimbledon where he had won a major already and that was against Casper [Ruud] who had also never won one. Not easy when you're trying to win your first and you're playing against the guy who's won 24 and 10 times. It's a very different mentality I think,” the 36-year-old added.
Djokovic dominated the 2023 season by winning three Slams beating the likes of Stefano Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, and Daniil Medvedev in the final. Only Alcaraz managed to get the best of the Serb at the Wimbledon final with a win after a five-set battle.
After Alcaraz’s triumph in London, everyone thought that Djokovic would stop and the younger generation would rise but the Serb responded by winning the US Open and ATP Finals in the coming months and ended the year as the no. 1 for a record eighth time.