Mats Wilander predicts Novak Djokovic “is going to run into some problems” during the clay season

Novak Djokovic is still searching for his 100th career title after losing to Jakub Mensik in the final of the Miami Open.

Mats Wilander predicts Novak Djokovic “is going to run into some problems” during the clay season

Novak Djokovic, Mats Wilander (Image via X/ESPN, Ubitennis)

Novak Djokovic has yet to win a tour-level title since the 2023 ATP Finals in Turin. The Serbian has struggled to be at his best as old age seems to be letting him down, while younger players are now eager to beat him. Tennis legend Mats Wilander believes that he could continue his struggle into the European clay season.

Djokovic reached his second final in almost six months at the Miami Open. He had met Jannik Sinner at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in October and lost to the World No.1. However, in Miami, he was the favorite to win against 19-year-old Jakub Mensik in the final. But, he failed to play his best tennis and was stunned by the youngster.

The defeat meant that Djokovic would have to wait to claim his 100th career title. The Serbian legend will be hoping to achieve the career milestone at the Monte Carlo Masters, which starts on April 6. If he fails to achieve that, he also has the chance of winning the Madrid Open and Italian Open.

But Mats Wilander doesn’t believe he has a chance to win early clay tournaments. The tennis legend revealed during a conversation that the World No.5 will run into problems because the surface is not his best.

I think he’s going to run into some problems, and I think that that’s the one thing that we’ve seen with Novak in general, is that the early part of the clay season is not necessarily his best season. The reason for that to me is that he’s a great clay court player without being a clay court player, because of the way that he hits the ball. Of course, his forehand is very much like a clay court forehand with a lot of spin, but he can, of course, flatten it out. That doesn’t work that well on a clay court.

Mats Wilander said via TNT Sports

Last year, Djokovic reached the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters. The Serbian lost to Casper Ruud in three sets. He will hope to get past that stage and claim his first title of the season this time around.

Mats Wilander believes Novak Djokovic needs to play in tournaments before the French Open

It took Novak Djokovic four tournaments this season to reach the Miami Open final, his first of the year. In fact, the Serbian lost three consecutive matches before ending the run of defeat in Florida. Mats Wilander says that will likely be the case on clay, that Djokovic has to play in many tournaments before the French Open, where he will be at his best form to contend for the Grand Slam.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/

I don’t think that he needs to practice any more – I don’t know if he gets any better any more in practising. I think he needs to get better at playing matches again because that’s the one thing you lose. When you start losing a little bit of confidence and when you get older, you start forgetting how to play matches and how to bring your intensity level to 100 per cent on points that are not important on the scoreboard, but points that Novak used to think are important, like the beginning of matches.

Mats Wilander said

The French Open will probably be the best place to rejuvenate Djokovic’s career. The 37-year-old achieved the impossible at the tournament’s court last year when he claimed the Olympic gold medal.

Tennis legends says players are becoming less afraid of Djokovic

Novak Djokovic’s sudden losses to players outside the Top 20 have become mind-blowing. The Serbian once had an aura that made players fear and not compete fully against him on the court because of what he had achieved. But with recent defeats, Mats Wilander believes that players are beginning to be less afraid of him.

Novak Djokovic (2)
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/NovakFanFan)

This guy’s really old, and I’m very young, and I am usually stronger and faster than most people and especially if you’re that age’. I do think that they are starting to feel like that against Novak a little bit. Has he slowed down just a little bit? We’re talking about maybe two percentage points. Is his backhand not as dangerous? Or is it just the fact that today’s players hit the ball harder than the players that Novak Djokovic had to beat to become the greatest of all time?

Mats Wilander said

Djokovic has done well to keep playing at the highest level despite his age. But, turning 38 by May will likely make more players believe they can beat him.