From the point of view of numbers and victories, there is no doubt that 2024 was one of the worst years of Novak Djokovics career. The former world number 1 has not won a title at this point of the season and has had to suffer several unexpected defeats from January until today.
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Novaks level didnt rise enough even in the Grand Slam tournaments, where he reached only one final at the Wimbledon Championships during the summer. For a player of his caliber it was not a satisfying season, even if he won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics and finally completed the puzzle.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion reached the final of the Masters 1000 in Shanghai last Sunday, but had to give up in two sets to Jannik Sinner and postpone his appointment with the 100 th title of his legendary career. Djokovic will face Sinner again today in the semi-finals of 'Six Kings Slam', the prestigious exhibition that is playing in Saudi Arabia. Yesterday, the world number 1 left just three games to Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Holger Rune to win a great match against Rafael Nadal.
What's next for Nole?
Nole has made the history of this sport and 2025 could be his last year at very high levels, since he will turn 38. Fans are wondering if the Belgrade champion will still be competitive to win the most prestigious titles, as a new era seems to have begun.
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Jimmy Connors has a well-known podcast "Advantage Connors" in which he comments on all the main events related to the world of tennis. The former legend of American tennis in the last episode focused on Novak Djokovic who lost to Jannik Sinner last Sunday in Shanghai and failed to win the 100th title in his career. In times when Rafael Nadal is at his last professional appearances, the 24-time Slam champion remains the only player of the Big 3 who seems to be very far from retirement. And Connors has advanced his theory about the exit from professional tennis of Djokovic.
As reported by 'The Tennis Gazette', Connors talks about Djokovic: "Its hard for me to say that he has had a drop in motivation because he does everything during his days to be always at his best. With his training and very accurate nutrition everything in his day is focused on tennis and being in the best possible form on the court".
"I would say it the right way - continues Connors - but aging is getting older. There are many young guys who see him a little more vulnerable. Hes not playing to the standards were used to. But he has the kind of game I like. He has a good response, an aggressive response. You can never exclude him from the favorites. He has courage, game, intensity".
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And then the prediction of Connors: "He had major defeats against Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, its true but the only situation in which he can reflect to say goodbye to everyone and leave is if some of those other young emerging will also start to come forward, grow up, create problems for him and beat him. Otherwise he will stay again, continue to play, and, I add, whats wrong with that?"
Djokovic is still competitive
Novak has been below his standards for most of this season and his only big match was against Alcaraz in the final of the Olympic tournament. With the upcoming retirement of Rafa Nadal - who will be leaving the tour after the Davis Cup Finals in November - Djokovic is the only survivor of a generation that has moved tennis into a new dimension.
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In a long interview with Vogue, the former World No.1 opened up on this changing of the guard: I dont think its that black and white because if it is, I consider myself belonging to the older guard, unable to compete with the younger guys. Its definitely a transition, but it takes time. Its a natural process, and people have been talking about it for many years.
Now we have younger guys, yes, but also we have the generation that is not the youngest: Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas. Those guys were or are all top-10; Medvedev has been No 1.Theyre going to stay up top for a while, along with the younger ones.
But I think youre thinking of Alcaraz and Sinner. Theyve developed an incredible rivalry in the last 12 months, and rivalries are what really attract a lot of attention to the sport. People that dont necessarily even follow tennis, per se, they do follow rivalries; they follow contrasts.
