Novak Djokovic is recovering his energies after a fairly complicated season. The former world number 1 had results far below expectations in 2024 and is certainly not used to ending a year without having won a single title.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion took the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and finally completed the puzzle, but in the rest of the season he showed the first signs of inexorable decline at almost 38 years old. The Serbian legend has reached just two finals this year, at the Wimbledon Championships and the Rolex Shanghai Masters, losing to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner respectively without winning a single set.
The 37-year-old from Belgrade will try to give himself another chance in 2025, which could be his last year at the highest level, especially if he does not win the 25th Major title of his legendary career. Nole has slipped back in the ATP rankings due to his bad results in recent months, which is why he could have a very tough draw at the next Australian Open.
Novak has played great tennis in Melbourne most of his time and will be looking to win the ‘Happy Slam’ for the 11th time in his career, but it won’t be easy at all against rivals like Sinner, Alcaraz and Zverev. The Serbian champion has shocked the world several times during his long career and could do so once again next year. However, the former world No. 1 seems to no longer have the brilliance he did a few years ago and his opponents play with less pressure against him.
Nole still feels competitive
In a recent interview with Eurosport, WTA legend and former World No.1 Justine Henin commented on Nole’s 2024 season: “Of course his season was successful. He went and got the title he wanted, that was his ultimate goal.
He went through a lot of phases this season, including certainly a phase of demotivation and then things to manage on a physical level too – but there was only one place where he wanted to shine.
And the way he did it, I still can’t believe it. This ability, when he didn’t have a great season, when everyone was doubting him, to raise his level of play as he did and manage to be present again in a big event, it’s just phenomenal.”
According to the former world No. 1 and several insiders, Novak’s resounding triumph at the Paris Olympics this summer is enough to consider his 2024 excellent. The Olympic tournament was the main goal of his season, having chased that goal throughout his career.
Few thought that Djokovic would be able to win the gold medal at 37 and on the surface least suited to his game. The 24-time Grand Slam champion played a near-perfect tournament, in which he didn’t lose a single set during the week. Novak defeated Carlitos Alcaraz in a truly beautiful final, which will be remembered as one of the best matches in the history of the Olympics. The Serbian champion cried a lot after the end of that match and hugged his family members.
New motivations
According to some insiders, that victory may have brought him closer to retirement because it will not be easy to find new motivations.
On the latest edition of ‘The Louis Theroux Podcast’, Australian ace and 2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios spoke about Djokovic’s mental toughness: “Tennis is a sport where you pay for everything, you subsidize for your coaches, travel, your parents, your physios, whereas most sports, it’s all subsidized by the governing body. Tennis is a tough one. It’s the hardest sport in the world in my opinion.”
He continued: “Mentally, you have to be unbelievably tough, because you’re always traveling, you never settle, you never have any routine. Physically, you have to be an animal, to be someone like Novak Djokovic animal. These guys are some of the most skilful athletes in the world. It’s a brutal sport, it really is.”
The 37-year-old from Belgrade has changed teams this year to try to find new motivation and could hire a new coach for 2025. The former world No. 1 said tennis is still a priority for him and that he will continue to play on the professional tour as long as he feels he is competitive.
Nole is still a dangerous player for all opponents, as Alcaraz admitted during a press conference at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. The Serbian ace will play a tournament at the beginning of the new year and then give his all to win the AO. Novak will be seeded number 7 at Melbourne Park next January.
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