Novak Djokovic is no longer the point of reference in the mens tour and this season has certified the final change of guard. The Serbian champion is still able to play great tennis and reach very high peaks, as he proved by winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, but the results no longer depend only on his level.
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Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are much younger and fresher than the 24-time Grand Slam champion, in fact they split equally the four Grand Slam tournaments played this year. The Italian ace - who occupies the first position in the ATP ranking - won the Australian Open and the US Open in 2024, while the 21-year-old Spaniard triumphed at the French Open and the Wimbledon Championships beating Nole in the final.
The 37-year-old from Belgrade didnt shine in the Majors this year and struggled to find the right stimuli in the Masters 1000, skipping four out of seven games and suffering some really shocking defeats (like at Indian Wells and Rome). In the last years of his career, the former world number 1 is determined to play only those events that really motivate him. After playing for his Serbia side in the Davis Cup last weekend, Novak admitted that the Shanghai Masters 1000 and the 'Six Kings Slam' (in Saudi Arabia) could be his last two events this year.
Djokovic's legacy
Fans and insiders are already wondering if Djokovic can win his 25th Grand Slam title next year. The current world number 4 will have more chances in Melbourne and London, while it will be further back in Paris and New York. During an interview with Eurosport, 7-time Grand Slam champion and top analyst John McEnroe discussed Noles legacy: He has been under-appreciated. It has been difficult for him to be compared to Rafa and Roger, but he has done an amazing job to put himself ahead of those guys.
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In ten years, 20 years, I think people will love him even more. When he stops playing, people will realise what he brought. I think that Djokovic has really tried to step up for the sport on and off the court. His actions when he plays and also off the court, he has really been trying to push the sport in the right direction. Whenever I see him in the locker room, I know he has the respect of the other players, but it has been tough for him with the fans. I know a little bit about what he is going through because when I stopped playing everyone was saying oh what you did was great.
Yet while I was playing, they didnt see it that way. Hes done a lot more than me, but we are a little similar in that sense. He is smart, he is interesting and he is one of the players who you know will give you value for money. It makes no sense, but I think people will appreciate him more now because Carlos Alcaraz has come along and he can still compete with a guy from a different generation. Hes done an incredible job of handling that negativity. He has this reputation for being the bad guy, the Darth Vader.
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Thanks to his victory at the Paris Olympics, Novak has truly completed the puzzle and it will not be easy for him to continue to be hungry. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has always found the world to fuel his motivation, but this time it could be more complicated. The Serbian legend had said that he would also be present at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028, but today it seems very unlikely.
Nole looks to 2025
Before the start of the 2024 Laver Cup, 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer commented on Djokovics current status: Novak, by winning the Olympics and playing, say, a full season, did not retire because of injuries, he chose to play less, which is normal when you get a little older. I think he has a chance to move forward. Im looking forward to Australia, which is the next Grand Slam tournament. I think hes going to be one of the favorites with Sinner and Alcaraz. The Australian Open will be very interesting to watch.
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The 37-year-old from Belgrade must be at the top of his mental and physical fitness to compete against much younger players. The former world number 1 has experienced how hard it is to face Alcaraz and Sinner at this time, especially in best of five set tournaments. The 2025 Australian Open will give us a strong clue about the future.
