The era of Novak Djokovic has finally reached its end, giving way to a new generation of tennis champions like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The Serbian legend, at 37 years old, has faced a challenging year with unexpected defeats against lower-ranked players, failing to secure a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2017 when he was sidelined with a wrist injury.
Despite the struggles, Djokovic managed to claim the gold medal at the Paris Olympics in a thrilling final against Alcaraz. However, the exertion took a toll on him and he suffered an early exit at the 2024 US Open, losing to Australian player Alexei Popyrin in the third round.
In 2024, Djokovic made it to the Wimbledon final but was outplayed by Alcaraz. Looking ahead, the 24-time Grand Slam champion aims to capture his 25th Major title, possibly at the Australian Open next year. However, he needs to carefully plan his schedule as he currently faces uncertainty in qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
In an interview with Sportklub, Australian tennis legend Paul McNamee shared his thoughts on Djokovic’s future, highlighting the emergence of a new trio in men’s tennis – Djokovic, Sinner, and Alcaraz. Despite the challenges, McNamee believes Djokovic still has what it takes to triumph at events like the Australian Open and Wimbledon in the coming year, but retirement might become a topic of discussion if he fails to secure a Slam victory.
Looking to bounce back, Djokovic is set to compete at the Masters 1000 in Shanghai and the Paris-Bercy tournament. Additionally, he may consider playing in Vienna to boost his ATP ranking points. Renowned coach Brad Gilbert expressed confidence in Djokovic’s return to form, despite the setbacks faced this year. He believed Djokovic had the potential to win multiple Grand Slam titles in 2024, highlighting the unpredictability of the sport.
