Toni Nadal Explains Why It Will Be Difficult for Novak Djokovic to Win His 25th Grand Slam

Novak Djokovic has played in just two tournaments this season and he's yet to compete on clay.

Toni Nadal Explains Why It Will Be Difficult for Novak Djokovic to Win His 25th Grand Slam

Novak Djokovic, Toni Nadal (Images via X, Rafa Nadal Academy)

Novak Djokovic’s chances of winning a 25th Grand Slam title grow slimmer with each passing year. The Serbian legend’s physical level is not as it was five years ago, and his body has begun to break down more and more often due to his age. Toni Nadal believes that he’s likely never going to achieve the goal of claiming his 25th Slam.

Djokovic has always been enthusiastic about his chances of winning his 25th major title despite Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s dominance. During an interview late last year, he noted that he just had to maintain his form and play better against Sinner and Alcaraz when they meet in the latter stages of major tournaments.

That didn’t fully work out for him at the Australian Open in January. He faced Sinner in the semi-finals of the Grand Slam and shockingly defeated the World No.1 in five sets and four hours at the Rod Laver Arena. The win was his first against Sinner on tour in two years. However, he couldn’t get past Alcaraz in the final of the Australian Open.

He fell to the Spaniard in four sets despite winning the opening set of the match. Nonetheless, it was the first time that Djokovic reached a Slam final since the 2023 US Open, which he won in straight sets after beating Daniil Medvedev in the final. Since January, Djokovic has played just three matches on tour.

The three matches came at the Indian Wells Open, winning two and losing to Jack Draper in the fourth round. He has withdrawn from all tournaments since then and he’s yet to confirm which event he will feature in ahead of the French Open. Speaking to Mundodepotivo, Toni Nadal pointed out that he finds it hard to imagine Djokovic winning another Grand Slam:

I find it difficult for him to win another Grand Slam. He beat Sinner in Australia, but not Alcaraz in the final. I think Sinner didn’t have a very good day; he didn’t have a great tournament. Djokovic, who is exceptional, knew how to take advantage of it. In the final, he played an incredible first set, but he could not maintain that rhythm for two hours against Alcaraz. He can still play at a very high level, but the problem is maintaining it.

Djokovic will not participate in the Madrid Open, which kicks off on Monday (April 20). The former World No.1 is struggling with physical issues, which means he will either play the Italian Open or the Geneva Open (like last year) ahead of the French Open. He has never reached the final of the Roland Garros since winning it in 2023.

Toni Nadal believes Carlos Alcaraz can win the remaining three Grand Slams this season

Carlos Alcaraz has not won a title in the past six weeks on tour and he’s injured. He sustained a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open, which forced him to withdraw from the Madrid Open, which commences on April 20. That means, Alcaraz will be without a clay title heading into the Italian Open ahead of Roland Garros.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/CARLOS ALCARAZ NEWS)

However, he has won the Roland Garros in two consecutive seasons on tour, including last year when he defeated Jannik Sinner in five sets after five hours and 29 minutes on the court. During the aforementioned interview, Toni Nadal was asked if Alcaraz has the chance of winning the remaining three Grand Slams this season:

He could do it because I see very few people capable of beating him. Sinner is capable, but at Roland Garros, Alcaraz has a better chance. 60-40. He’s the favorite at Wimbledon and at the US Open as well. It’s feasible for him to do it, it’s not easy. He’d have a 75% chance of winning Roland Garros, let’s say 60% at Wimbledon and another 60% at the US Open.

Alcaraz reached the final of three Grand Slams last season, losing one and winning two. The World No.2 has the best clay court winning rate just after Novak Djokovic and often plays best at the French Open. He has won the Wimbledon Championship twice and last year claimed the US Open after beating Sinner in the final.

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