Former No.1 thinks Roland Garros will be ‘critical’ for Novak Djokovic as he makes bombshell prediction on Serb
Novak Djokovic last lifted a Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open and since then, he reached only one Major final: at the 2024 Wimbledon.
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Novak Djokovic (via X/We Love Tennis)
Novak Djokovic has been a shadow of his former self. He has reached the twilight of his career and due to his age, fitness problems have been hampering his performance.
Apart from the fitness issues, many think Djokovic has experienced a drop in his motivation level after the retirement of his two biggest rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Despite a subpar season 2024 season, which saw Djokovic win only the Paris Olympics and reach the Wimbledon and the Shanghai Masters finals, the Serb insisted that he still has enough gas left in his tank.
But so far, that doesn’t seem to be the case this year. For the second time, he lost three consecutive matches. Before the clay swing, Djokovic gave a walkover to Alexander Zverev in the Australian Open semifinal, following which, he lost his first-round matches in the Qatar Open and the Indian Wells.
The Serb then reached his first final of the season at the Miami Open but his 100th ATP title still eluded him as Jakub Mensik defeated him to win his first ATP title of his career. Following Miami, Djokovic succumbed to defeats in his opening round matches at the Monte Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open against Alejandro Tabilo and Matteo Arnaldi, respectively.
Amid his struggles to win matches, former doubles No.1 Todd Woodbridge implied that he thinks Djokovic could call time on his career if he fails to perform at Wimbledon. Last year, Nole lost the Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets.
These next five, six weeks, are critical for Novak. If he can perform well in Paris, we’ll see him stick around, if he doesn’t, Wimbledon, most definitely he’s a contender and he’ll be there, but then I think the rest of the season, his future, we’re going to have to wait and see what he decides to do.
Todd Woodbridge said on the Australian Open’s The Tennis podcast
After his Madrid Open exit, Djokovic withdrew from the Italian Open. He won’t be playing the third Masters 1000 event on clay for the first time since 2007.
Amelie Mauresmo makes her feelings known on Novak Djokovic’s decision to add Andy Murray to his team
Andy Murray retired at the 2024 Paris Olympics and in less than four years, he started his coaching job. His joining Novak Djokovic‘s team indeed was shocking news when it came out in November. But former World No.1 Amelie Mauresmo said the partnership did not shock her.
Because Novak has been coached by Boris Becker and he is always looking for a new pair of eyes to see his game and bring him new things and also the friendship they have is maybe something that he needed. And then for Andy to say yes, I am not that surprised or not shocked.
Amelie Mauresmo told French Open’s YouTube channel
Under Murray, Djokovic reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and the final of the Miami Open. For how long they will be working with each other is not certain but reports stated that they will be working at least till Wimbledon.
Djokovic last lifted a Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open. That year, he fell short of the Calendar Grand Slam due to his five-set defeat in the final of Wimbledon to Carlos Alcaraz who became a champion at SW19 for the first time in his career. If the 24-time Grand Slam champion wins another title, he will become the third man in the history of tennis to clinch 100 or more titles after Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors.
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