Djokovic has a plan, with new coach Andy Murray, to take on the tennis newcomers

 Brisbane, Jan. 2: After winning just one tournament in 2024 — a Paris Olympics gold medal — former No. 1 Novak Djokovic says he, and with new coach Andy Murray's input, has a plan to take on the game's newcomers.

Nothing radical, he says, but enough to give him a chance against the likes of 23-year-old top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who won the Australian Open and U.S. Open last year, and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who is 21 and who won the other two Grand Slam tournaments, Wimbledon and the French Open.

The 37-year-old Djokovic said after his first-round win at the Brisbane International that he will spend the days ahead of the Australian Open, which begins Jan. 12, with Murray viewing match videos of his younger rivals.

The seventh-ranked Djokovic began his quest for a 100th ATP title with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Australian wild-card entry Rinky Hijikata. A win in Brisbane would be an ideal set-up for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title in Melbourne for the already 10-time Australian Open champion.

Djokovic said he would use a second meeting with rival-turned-coach Murray to make small tweaks in his game.

"I'm not looking to transform my game completely . . . I'm not going to be Giovanni (rising 21-year-old French star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard) serving two first serves and coming in to the net," Djokovic told Australian Associated Press.

"But I definitely am looking to improve, even if it's the slightest percentage, every single shot that I have in my game, and maybe something that people don't necessarily see is this court positioning, the transition play, the tactics."

And he's prepared to put in time on the practice court.

"Physically, mentally, as well and ready to compete, whatever it takes, however many hours it takes with the youngsters," he said. "The week before Australian Open (we will) do a lot of video analysis of my main opponents, top guys, trying to understand how my game matches up."

Djokovic, speaking after his win in Brisbane, poked fun at Murray's current family skiing trip. He said he hoped Murray, who sustained a number of hip and other injuries during his career, didn't suffer any skiing-related incidents.

'He's actually skiing at the moment,' Djokovic said. 'He's on a family skiing trip. Sending my love to all the Murray family. I hope he doesn't get injured skiing before he comes to Melbourne."

Murray, in his often self-deprecating manner, couldn't resist responding with a video on X, saying: "I'm taking on some huge slopes as you can see but no injuries just yet." But the "huge slopes" looked more like a beginner's bunny run.

Navarro stunned by wildcard 

Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell stunned second seed Emma Navarro on Wednesday while the doubles act of Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios came to a shuddering halt at the Brisbane International.

But it was all smiles from defending men's champion Grigor Dimitrov, who powered into the quarter-finals in straight sets.

In the opening match on Pat Rafter Arena, Birrell matched world number eight Navarro stroke-for-stroke to put a dent in the American's Australian Open preparations.

Navarro had a stellar 2024, going deep in all four Grand Slams including a run to the semi-finals of the US Open.

She was expected to brush aside the challenge of 26-year-old Birrell, who has never broken into the top 100 in her 10 years on the WTA Tour.

But the Australian, who trains at the Queensland Tennis Centre and is ranked 113, was not intimidated and delighted her home crowd with a nerveless display.

Birrell, who will face 35th-ranked Russian Anastasia Potapova in the last 16, said she embraced the role of underdog.

"I guess it's kind of like one of those situations where you have no choice, you just have to go for it," she said.

"That was kind of the attitude I had going into today -- I think that really benefited me, along with having played a lot of hours on this court here."

Dimitrov continued his love affair with Brisbane by easing past another Australian wildcard, Aleksandar Vukic, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).

The Bulgarian world number 10 raced through the first set then held off Vukic as the Australian raised his game in the second.

"I'm starting to find my game but I think there is still a lot to do," said Dimitrov, who has won the tournament twice and finished runner-up once.

"So hopefully with each match I can build up a little bit more and play better and better." (AP)