Former world number one and Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli has provided fascinating insights into Novak Djokovic's pre-season preparation that she believes has positioned the Serbian superstar as the favorite in the Australian Open final against Carlos Alcaraz. Bartoli, who spent time with Djokovic during his training camp in Dubai ahead of the 2026 season, revealed the meticulous work ethic that has propelled the 24-time Grand Slam champion into yet another championship match.
Intensive Dubai Training Regimen
According to Bartoli's exclusive comments to Tennis.com, Djokovic demonstrated remarkable self-awareness and determination during his Dubai training sessions. "Novak shows immense intelligence, knowing he had to close the gap on the level of Jannik and Carlos, and therefore work even harder," Bartoli explained. She witnessed firsthand the Serbian's commitment to identifying and addressing his weaknesses.
The French tennis legend described Djokovic's rigorous schedule, noting that he was "hitting the court every day—where I was lucky enough to watch some of his training sessions—staying in the gym until late at night, putting in the effort to identify what he was missing." These late-night gym sessions proved particularly valuable in building the physical resilience needed for marathon matches.
Overcoming Sinner in Semifinal Marathon
Bartoli emphasized how Djokovic's pre-season work paid dividends during his grueling five-set semifinal victory against Jannik Sinner, which extended well past midnight. "He managed to elevate his game to another level. I was convinced he could do it, even if the challenge was enormous," she stated. "This performance is just like him, just like his career."
The former Wimbledon champion highlighted Djokovic's extraordinary ability to perform under extreme pressure, particularly in the decisive fifth set against Sinner. "It illustrates this constant ability—as very few players can manage—to adapt," Bartoli noted. "He saved all those break points in the fifth set (eight in total). Down 0-40 after breaking serve, he fired a second serve at 189 km/h down the T, followed by an extremely tough lob to handle."
Mental and Physical Resilience
Bartoli marveled at Djokovic's capacity to deliver exceptional shots under exhausting conditions. "It's 1 a.m., you've been grinding for 4 hours, it's a shot where he could falter, and he pulls off an exceptional smash," she described. "It's pure Djokovic: an infinite capacity to reinvent himself, to find solutions, to tap every last mental, physical, and tennis resource."
The tennis analyst believes these "little adjustments" developed during the Dubai pre-season camp ultimately enabled Djokovic to reach the Australian Open final. His ability to save critical break points and maintain composure during extended rallies demonstrates the effectiveness of his targeted training approach.
As Djokovic prepares for his championship clash with Carlos Alcaraz, Bartoli's observations suggest the Serbian has successfully bridged the generational gap through strategic preparation. His Dubai training regimen appears to have provided both the physical conditioning and mental fortitude necessary to compete against younger opponents while maintaining his championship pedigree.
