Mats Wilander backs Novak Djokovic to finish his career with 26 Grand Slam titles as the Serb is “not getting older physically”

Mats Wilander thinks Novak Djokovic still has it in him to win two more Grand Slam titles before retirement.


Mats Wilander backs Novak Djokovic to finish his career with 26 Grand Slam titles as the Serb is “not getting older physically”

Mats Wilander, Novak Djokovic (Images via Imago/X)

Novak Djokovic suffered a shock US Open exit but in spite of that, Mats Wilander backed him to finish his career with 26 Grand Slam titles. Djokovic was chasing his historic 25th major title at Flushing Meadows but lost in four sets in the third round to Alexei Popyrin.

Djokovic was reluctant to come to New York following the Paris Olympics, where he clinched the gold medal for the first time by beating Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz. In his press conference, Djokovic admitted that he performed poorly because he spent a lot of his energy on winning the elusive gold medal.

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He did not even play a single North American hard-court tournament before the US Open. Now that he failed to win a single major title this year, he wants to get a much-needed rest before playing his next tournament.

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Djokovic is 37 and many think his form has started to decline as he is not been able to perform consistently. Even if that’s the case, Wilander thinks that Djokovic still has it in him to win a couple of more Grand Slam trophies. 

So far I don’t see him getting old, I don’t think this is the year where we thought ‘Ah, he’s 37.’ Physically I don’t notice anything getting older, mentally – he seems to be getting smarter. I can’t believe he’s still playing at this rate, but I can believe he’ll keep it up. I think he will win some more Slams, that he will finish at 26. 
Mats Wilander told Sport Klub

Mats Wilander calls Jannik Sinner the favorite to win the US Open 

Novak Djokovic was knocked out of the US Open following Carlos Alcaraz’s elimination in the second round. The 21-year-old was no match for an unseeded Botic van de Zandschulp, losing the match in straight sets. After their exits, World No.1 Jannik Sinner is considered the favorite to win. Mats Wilander is of the same opinion, although he thinks fifth seed Daniil Medvedev also has the chance to win. 

novak djokovic
Jannik Sinner (Image via X)
Medvedev can win, in his own way, and it’s good for Sinner that he didn’t have a tough opponent immediately after the elimination of Alcaraz and Djokovic, so that it settles down for him.
Mats Wilander said 

Medvedev won the US Open in 2021, which is also the only Grand Slam trophy he has been able to win so far. Sinner, on the other hand, is also chasing his second major title, having won this year’s Australian Open by beating Medvedev in the final. 

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