Justine Henin believes that Novak Djokovic will need to stave off the threat of illness in order to stand the best chance of beating Carlos Alcaraz to the US Open title.
Speaking after Djokovic’s third-round victory over Alexei Popyrin, Henin said: “Maybe he’s going through some physical difficulties, facing young players who want to take their chances.
“He got through it in four sets, with a little more time on court, but he’s in the third round.
“There’s some inconsistency, but it’s all about energy and intensity. He made no secret of it, he wasn’t at his best physically, he was a bit ill.
“You always wonder at what level you’re going to find this player, at the start of the season or at the start of a Grand Slam, but does it really matter?
“With the matches, the confidence, the experience of a tournament, we know that all that can evolve. He knows that better than any other player.
“Of course he’d like to be at an even higher level, but at the same time he knows that he’s capable of playing better in the next round if he feels better physically.”
