Novak Djokovic still dreams of winning his 25th major title, but his body might have other plans.
Despite not winning any Grand Slam in the past two years, Djokovic’s still one of the favorites heading into this year’s Australian Open. And for good reason.
He’s won the tournament a record 10 times. Nobody’s lifted that trophy in Melbourne more than he has.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novak Djokovic | 38 | 8,360 | 18 - 6 |
But here’s the thing – even the greatest players can’t beat Father Time. And right now, Djokovic’s body is sending some pretty worrying signals.
A Pattern of Withdrawals
Djokovic ended last year by pulling out of the ATP Finals. Then he started this season the same way – withdrawing from the Adelaide International just before it began.
That’s becoming a concerning pattern for the 37-year-old.
His next stop? The Australian Open, where he’ll be the fourth seed. But his chances of making a deep run took another hit during a recent practice session.
Practice Session Cut Short
Djokovic has been practicing at Melbourne Park, getting ready for the first major of 2025. He chose Daniil Medvedev as his practice partner for what should have been a routine session.
Things started okay. Djokovic lost the first set 5-7, but the pace was pretty relaxed – nothing too intense.
Then came the second practice session of the day.
It lasted just 12 minutes. Djokovic had to stop and get attention from his physiotherapist.
The culprit? His neck.
Given how much he’s struggled with injuries lately, it’s hard to see how the 10-time champion can seriously challenge for another Australian Open title. That would take something pretty close to a miracle.
Former Champion Weighs In
Pat Cash, who won Wimbledon back in 1987, recently shared his thoughts on Djokovic’s chances with Tennis365. His assessment? Pretty brutal but honest.
Cash thinks Djokovic needs help from the top guys to have a real shot.
"He needs two of them to fall over, that’s the reality of it. So I’m very, very interested to see how he goes. It’s a fine balance at the end of your career to find where you are training hard enough to be fit enough to last two, even three, five set matches, but the not pushing it too far."
Cash knows what he’s talking about. The training balance for older players is incredibly tricky.
"You need to save enough in the tank so that you don’t get worn out and then not overtraining that you get injured before you go in there. When you are younger, you can keep pushing and while you get tired, if you play a five-set match when you are younger, you know you can bounce back quickly."
Translation: Djokovic’s walking a tightrope. Train too hard, risk injury. Don’t train hard enough, and he won’t last in those brutal five-set matches that can go for hours.
The Reality Check
Cash is basically saying what many tennis fans are thinking – Djokovic needs Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to stumble if he wants to add that 25th major to his collection.
It’s not exactly the position the Serbian legend wants to be in. But at 37, with a neck issue and a recent history of withdrawals, it might be the reality.
The Australian Open starts soon, and all eyes will be on whether Djokovic can stay healthy enough to make it through seven matches. Right now, that’s looking like a bigger challenge than any opponent he might face.
