Novak Djokovic has participated in a number of occasions within the final week, earlier than beginning the preparation for the subsequent season. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was in Doha for a number of days to signal his new partnership with Qatar Airways, earlier than the announcement that Nole will play the distinguished event in Doha in 2025.
Qatar Airways is the primary sponsor of the Doha ATP 500, which is why this announcement didn’t shock anybody. The previous world No. 1 then traveled to Argentina, the place he performed an exhibition match together with his nice good friend and former rival Juan Martin del Potro in Buenos Aires on December 1st.
Juan Martin del Potro & Novak Djokovic© Stream screenshot
The Argentine – who ended his profession on the skilled tour in Buenos Aires in 2022 – was in a position to play his final match in entrance of his followers and each gamers have been moved on the finish of the conflict.
The 37-year-old from Belgrade actually realized an period has ended. Within the final couple of years, Novak has seen a few of his greatest rivals equivalent to Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem and Juan Martin del Potro retire.
A distinct facet of Nole
The Serbian legend would be the final survivor of the previous technology in 2025 together with Stan Wawrinka, who’s a good distance from the highest of the ATP tour proper now. The present world quantity 7 will get excited fascinated by the passing of time and wished to reward all those that have made his profession so particular.
“I am still playing and I believe I am part of a golden era” – Djokovic said in a recent interview. “Federer, Nadal, Murray, Delpo, Stan Wawrinka… it’s a very particular period for our sport. Our private careers have been influenced by all these rivalries of the final 15 years.
For me, taking a look at this 12 months, it’s an unimaginable factor. I’m a bit unhappy as a result of my biggest rivals have left. Part of me, by way of tennis, additionally leaves with them, however I proceed to hunt this motivation.
Now I work with a brand new coach, one in all my greatest rivals, who evokes me to see if we are able to obtain nice issues in our sport” – he added.
The previous world No. 1 is searching for new motivations at this final stage of his profession and is aware of that 2025 will decide his future in skilled tennis. The Serbian ace – who didn’t win a single title in 2024 – needs to attempt to clinch his twenty fifth Grand Slam title and his a hundredth title ever subsequent season.
Novak Djokovic© La Nacion – YouTube
Lately, the 37-year-old from Belgrade introduced that Andy Murray might be his coach on the 2025 Australian Open. A choice that left everybody speechless, however which confirms the Serbian’s willingness to offer his finest to finish his profession on his personal phrases.
For the primary time in his profession, Nole is not going to be the highest favourite at Melbourne Park. Novak will begin the event behind Sinner and Alcaraz, on the identical stage as Sascha Zverev. Nobody is aware of higher than Djokovic the way to win the Australian Open, a event wherein he carved his legend by triumphing ten occasions.
Tennis continues to be a precedence
Tennis continues to be a precedence for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who isn’t afraid to externalize his ambitions and face gamers a lot youthful than him. Novak could be very centered on the upcoming season, which is why he has determined to skip the final occasions of 2024 (such because the Rolex Paris Masters and the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin).
The Serbian’s 2025 will begin in Brisbane, the place he’ll attempt to win the a hundredth title of his legendary profession. The world quantity 7 has promised that he’ll play extra tournaments subsequent 12 months, with the intention to be extra prepared for his actual targets. Nole struggled so much within the second-tier tournaments in 2024, making the distinction solely in Shanghai the place he reached the ultimate.
Novak Djokovic, ATP Finals 2023© Stream screenshot
Some followers and insiders have criticized Novak’s option to skip the final tournaments of 2024 with none actual motive. The previous world no 1 was presupposed to defend his titles in Paris-Bercy and Turin, however he determined to finish his season effectively prematurely.
In a current YouTube interview, Julia Apostoli – Stefanos Tsitsipas’ mom – praised Djokovic’s angle on and off the court docket: “Djokovic is a self-made man. No PR. In different phrases, he entered tennis when Federer and Nadal have been on the highest stage. They have been already the fathers of tennis. And Djokovic was not a reputation, however over time, as time has proven, he proved that the whole lot is feasible. Those that condemn him will want time to reassess this.”
