Gilles Simon rings alarm bells for Novak Djokovic as title drought continues at the Miami Open

Novak Djokovic turns 38 in May, which brings him ever closer to his eventual retirement years amidst title drought.

Gilles Simon rings alarm bells for Novak Djokovic as title drought continues at the Miami Open

Novak Djokovic and Gilles Simon (via X)

French tennis star and former coach of Daniil Medvedev, Gilles Simon, has issued a warning to Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic. Simon, who ended his partnership with Medvedev in February, believes that the 24-time Grand Slam champion is no longer the dominant force he once was on the ATP Tour.

Simon, known for his consistency from the baseline during his playing days, claims that Djokovic can no longer play with the same intensity he once showed in his battles with Rafael Nadal. At 37, Simon says Djokovic now needs more free points than ever before.

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It’s very logical. He’s serving better and better because he needs more free points than before. He’s less able to maintain his level by playing at full intensity, every point from the baseline for four or five sets, as he used to do with Rafa Nadal – we’ve all seen that. For a few years now, he’s only been able to play at this level for an hour and a half, sometimes during a set or at certain moments of the match. Even when he wins Roland-Garros or Wimbledon, there’s a set he doesn’t play because he needs to recover – something he never did before. Before, he was full out, from the first point to the last.

Gilles Simon said in an interview to Tennis365

Djokovic is currently going through an unexpected title drought on the ATP Tour, having not won an ATP title since the 2023 ATP Finals. His only title since then came at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he claimed his first-ever Olympic gold medal.

The Serbian has come painfully close to winning more titles, reaching the finals of the Shanghai Masters last year and the Miami Masters this year. However, he lost those finals to Jannik Sinner and Jakub Mensik, respectively.

Novak Djokovic’s Monte Carlo draw revealed

After narrowly missing the title in Miami, Novak Djokovic now turns his focus to the Monte Carlo Masters. The Serbian star, who has already won 99 ATP titles, will be chasing his 100th career trophy. He has won in Monte Carlo before, in 2013 and 2015, and will hope to repeat that success this week.

Novak Djokovic (5)
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/CGTN Sports Scene)

As one of the top eight seeds, Djokovic has a first-round bye and will start his campaign in round two. He could face Alejandro Tabilo, who beat him last year in Rome. Tabilo must first get past wildcard Stan Wawrinka, a former Monte Carlo champion. Despite Tabilo’s earlier win, his 2025 form has been weak with a 2-9 record.

If Djokovic moves on, a third-round match against Grigor Dimitrov could follow. Djokovic has dominated their past meetings, including a strong win in Miami last week. In the quarter-finals, a rematch with Alex de Minaur is possible. Djokovic beat him in Monte Carlo last year and leads their head-to-head 2-1.

In the semifinals, a clash with top seed Alexander Zverev is likely, though Stefanos Tsitsipas could also be in the mix. Zverev has struggled with form lately. If Djokovic reaches the final, he may face Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic has the edge in their past matchups, including wins on clay and in Australia this year.

Has Novak Djokovic improved under Andy Murray?

The tennis world was shocked when Novak Djokovic announced Andy Murray as his new coach for the 2025 season. However, the move seems to be paying off, especially in one key area—his serve. Djokovic is aiming for his 100th career title this year, which could also be his last. He’s also chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title before retiring.

Andy Murray Novak Djokovic (1)
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic (Image via ATP/X)

Murray’s presence seems to have given Djokovic new motivation. The two used to be fierce rivals, but now they are working together. One big improvement is Djokovic’s first serve. So far in 2025, he has a 69% first-serve percentage, which is better than in any of his previous peak years.

In 2011, 2016, and even 2021—seasons when Djokovic won three Grand Slams—his first serve percentage was only around 65%. In 2023, it dropped to 64%. That makes this year’s 69% a big jump. In elite sports, even small improvements matter a lot. A 5% rise in serve accuracy is like a sprinter shaving time off a personal best.

Djokovic has also been strong in other serving stats. He’s won 76% of first points on serve and held 89% of his service games this year. That’s impressive, especially as he turns 38 next month. If he keeps serving this well, Djokovic could be a serious contender at the French Open and Wimbledon.