Novak Djokovic has excessive expectations for subsequent season, through which he’ll attempt to win a Grand Slam title once more. The previous world No.1 — who hasn’t lifted a trophy in a serious for the reason that 2023 U.S. Open — has had a reasonably robust 2024 through which he has infrequently performed his finest tennis.
The 37-year-old from Belgrade has solely reached the ultimate on the Wimbledon Championships (misplaced to Carlos Alcaraz) and the Rolex Shanghai Masters (misplaced to Jannik Sinner), however he nonetheless made his season unforgettable because of his triumph on the Paris Olympics through the summer season.
Successful the gold medal for his nation was maybe the final piece of the puzzle he was lacking and few imagined that he would obtain this feat on the purple clay and in his final Olympic participation (though the Serbian ace didn’t rule out collaborating within the Los Angeles Video games in 2028).
Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2024© Stream screenshot
Nole is aware of that it’ll not be straightforward in any respect to compete with Sinner and Alcaraz in 2025, two very sturdy opponents and far youthful than him. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has been working very arduous through the low season and can make his debut in Brisbane at first of January, in order to seek out the proper rhythm forward of the Australian Open.
After parting methods with Goran Ivanisevic in mid-2024, Novak not had an actual coach. Just a few weeks in the past – nonetheless – the present world quantity 7 introduced the beginning of a brand new collaboration along with his former rival Andy Murray.
Some doubts
Throughout a latest interview with ‘Express’, former French ace Jeremy Chardy raised some doubts about this collaboration: “I don’t think so because they also have big respect for each other and respect on the court, off the court.
They are not like really close friends but they know each other so it’s difficult, the relationship will be difficult because Andy was one of the top players and he beat him and when you are outside, on the box, you don’t see the things the same way.
I don’t think they will have a fight. But maybe! Because sometimes you need to have a fight, it’s good to have a fight. No, I think they respect too much each other.”
Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2024© Stream screenshot
The Australian Open is the Grand Slam match through which Nole has the very best probability of successful along with the Wimbledon Championships. The previous world No. 1 has triumphed ten instances at Melbourne Park, most just lately in 2023, and is about to clinch the twenty fifth Main of his legendary profession earlier than retiring.
At nearly 38 years previous, Djokovic will want quite a few favorable mixtures to attain this feat. The Serbian ace would be the quantity 7 seed on the 2025 AO and his draw could possibly be very robust from the primary week. The 37-year-old from Belgrade has accustomed us many instances to stunning the world, however his disappointing leads to 2024 have elevated the arrogance of his opponents that he can defeat him.
A wounded lion
Regardless of the difficulties of the final yr, Djokovic has no intention of giving up simply and can give his finest in Melbourne in simply over two weeks.
Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon 2024© Stream screenshot
On the most recent version of the ‘Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast’, former WTA star Andrea Petkovic mentioned Nole’s possibilities of successful one other Main title: “I think for him to achieve that extra title, which I think he can definitely, he needs to be a bit lucky. He needs to be lucky in the first week to contain energy. He needs to have a draw where he cruises.
He will be fit, he will be at 100%, he will come from off-season, he will have trained amazingly and he will have Andy Murray in his box. And so all the negative energy will be trapped in the players’ box, not on the court, in the persona of Andy Murray.”
The previous High 10 continued: “I think he just needs to get a little lucky in the first week so he contains energy in a sense that he cruises through the first four rounds, I’d say.
And then can focus on, because he might play an Alcaraz, might play a Sinner or whoever, and then has his full powers there.”
