It has been 662 days since Novak Djokovic secured his last major championship. This significant win occurred in September 2023 at the US Open, where his victory over Daniil Medvedev brought him level with Margaret Court`s enduring record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
At the time, it seemed almost guaranteed that Djokovic would soon surpass this milestone to hold the record outright.
Since that win, his long-time rival Rafael Nadal has retired, making Djokovic the only active member of the legendary `Big Three` (Roger Federer retired in 2022). Now aged 38, Djokovic has reached another Wimbledon final, appeared in three other major semifinals, and even claimed Olympic gold. Yet, securing the unprecedented 25th major title continues to elude him. Following his emotional semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner at the recent French Open, he publicly suggested it “could have been the last match ever” for him at that tournament, hinting at potential retirement.
Even without his comments, speculation about the end of his career has surrounded every major he plays. His recent remarks, however, have added a sense of urgency, almost like a countdown for his quest for tennis immortality. Given his seven previous victories here, many observers believe this year`s Wimbledon tournament represents his prime opportunity – possibly his last – to capture a 25th major title.
Having reached the third round after a decisive victory over Dan Evans (6-3, 6-2, 6-0) on Thursday, and showing dominant form in his initial matches, the 6th seed Djokovic`s performance lends credence to this assessment. He has also openly acknowledged this perspective.
“Whether it could be my last dance, I`m not sure, just as I`m uncertain about Roland Garros or any subsequent Slam I might play,” Djokovic commented in his press conference before the tournament began.
He stated his desire to continue playing but conceded he wasn`t sure if he would be physically able.
He further added, “And yes, I would likely agree that Wimbledon might be my best chance due to my past results here, how I feel, and how I play on this surface. It provides that extra mental drive and motivation to perform my best tennis at the highest level.”
Currently, five matches separate him from the title, with potential clashes against his main rivals, Sinner and Alcaraz, looming. A victory would make him the oldest male Grand Slam winner in the Open era and equal Roger Federer`s record for most Wimbledon men`s singles titles. Two decades after his first appearance, circumstances appear favorable, and the stakes are exceptionally high. The question remains: can he achieve it?
To be clear, Djokovic has already secured his place among the sport`s all-time greats, regardless of future victories.
His career achievements are unparalleled. He holds the record for the most major titles by a male player, has spent an ATP-record 428 weeks as world No. 1 (finishing the year as No. 1 eight times), won 40 Masters 1000 titles, 100 overall ATP trophies, captured the ATP Finals seven times, and earned two Olympic medals, including a coveted gold in Paris last summer. The list of his accomplishments is extensive. Many observers solidified his status as the greatest of all time after his US Open win two years prior.
However, despite having already convinced many of his greatness, Djokovic clearly expressed his desire to continue playing and accumulating titles. After concluding the 2023 season with an ATP Finals win and the year-end No. 1 ranking, he shared his even higher ambitions for 2024.
“Well, you can win four Slams and an Olympic gold,” Djokovic stated, outlining his aims. “I always have the highest ambitions and goals. That`s not going to be different for the next year… Motivation, especially for the biggest tournaments in sport, is still present. It still inspires me to keep going.”
However, the year didn`t unfold as planned, partly due to the emergence of Sinner and Alcaraz. Djokovic was defeated by Sinner in the 2024 Australian Open semifinals and had to withdraw from the French Open before the quarterfinals due to a torn medial meniscus requiring surgery. He returned for Wimbledon, reaching his sixth consecutive final, only to lose to Alcaraz for the second year running. He did achieve his long-held Olympic gold dream with a thrilling win over Alcaraz but was then upset in the US Open third round by Alexei Popyrin.
Djokovic seemed to be in excellent form at the Australian Open in January, overcoming Alcaraz in four sets in the quarterfinals, before retiring from his semifinal match after the first set due to a hamstring injury. Amidst these challenges, Djokovic has frequently mentioned a decline in motivation, finding it difficult without his long-time contemporaries Nadal, Federer, and Andy Murray competing regularly.
Since Djokovic`s last major triumph at the US Open, the younger stars, 23-year-old Sinner and 22-year-old Alcaraz, have claimed every Grand Slam title. While Djokovic has had some victories against Alcaraz recently, he has lost all three of his matches against Sinner since the beginning of 2024.
Sinner and Alcaraz have emerged as the dominant new force in men`s tennis, positioning Djokovic somewhat as an underdog, reminiscent of his early career battles against the established Federer and Nadal. However, Djokovic stated that this dynamic doesn`t significantly alter his mindset or approach to Grand Slams.
“In a sense, you`re always hunting because you`re always aiming for titles, and in my fortunate position, for records and more history,” Djokovic remarked on Saturday. “I feel like I`m always in a position of striving for something with the attitude of trying to win, rather than trying to defend… I would say it`s slightly different for me now in that I don`t chase rankings anymore in the same way, but I am trying to play my best tennis in Grand Slams and win them. That remains unchanged. It still stays the same.”
Throughout his first two matches this week at Wimbledon, especially in his dominant second-round win, Djokovic has demonstrated an elevated level of play. He was relentless in overpowering Britain`s Dan Evans, boasting an 89% first-serve win rate and hitting 46 winners compared to Evans` 19 in the match, which lasted just 1 hour and 47 minutes.
Following the match, Evans commented, “The bottom line is, it`s quite clear why he`s so good on that court. He played high-quality tennis and showed everyone on Centre Court why he is a genuine contender.”
After the match, Djokovic told the crowd he executed his game plan “perfectly” and described it as a day where “everything goes your way.” This victory marked his 19th time reaching the Round of 32 at Wimbledon. His next opponent is fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic on Saturday, with a place in the second week and a potential 100th career win at the All England Club at stake. Djokovic holds a perfect record against Kecmanovic in their three previous encounters, including one at Wimbledon in 2022.
Grass has consistently complemented Djokovic`s playing style and remains the surface where he holds the most significant advantage.
Although he didn`t play on grass extensively in his youth, he has expertly adapted his game, utilizing his flexibility and footwork to cover the court effectively. Beyond his formidable serve and return, crucial on grass, he handles the low bounces and varied speed of the surface exceptionally well. While some players perceive Wimbledon`s court speed has decreased, Djokovic stated on Thursday that grass is still the fastest surface, though he feels the ball might influence the pace. Regardless of the court speed, he seems to have adapted seamlessly.
Grass is also the softest surface, absorbing impact differently from hard courts or clay, which could be particularly beneficial for an aging player with a history of leg injuries.
Crucially, Djokovic possesses a wealth of experience on grass, a surface where few others are as comfortable. The grass court season is notoriously short, just over three weeks between the French Open and Wimbledon, meaning few top players compete in more than one or two warm-up events, and some skip them entirely. This limited window makes it challenging for many players to find their rhythm, as highlighted by the numerous upsets of top seeds in the early rounds this year.
“I don`t know when the end is coming, but I believe his best opportunity is on grass,” stated Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion and former world No. 1, on his recent `Served` podcast. “I think his current game – not the Novak of five years ago – but as it is now, benefits most from the grass surface. And crucially, he understands how to play on it.”
Should Djokovic win his Saturday match, he is projected to meet 11th seed Alex de Minaur in the fourth round. The expected quarterfinal opponent, British favorite and 4th seed Jack Draper, was eliminated in the second round by unseeded Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion. With Cilic or 15th seed Jakub Mensik (a rising teenager) now potential quarterfinal opponents, Djokovic`s path seems more manageable following Draper`s exit. A likely semifinal opponent would be Sinner, and despite Sinner`s recent victories against Djokovic, he has not yet reached a Wimbledon final, and his only grass warm-up event saw him exit in the round of 16.
Former world No. 12 Feliciano López observed in a recent Sky Sports interview, “He`s not consistently at the level of Carlos and Jannik, especially over the last 18 months; the statistics confirm that. However, his performance against Sinner at the French Open surprised me. He pushed Sinner significantly, and while there`s still a gap, I believe grass is the surface where he can best challenge their level because it`s so unique. Djokovic has demonstrated he can still compete at this level, and he has a stronger chance on grass.”
As a keen observer and enthusiast of tennis, Djokovic is acutely aware of his chances and the significance of this moment. Yet, while enjoying the crowd`s support and the sunshine on Thursday, he admitted he avoids dwelling on his past achievements, reserving that for a future time when he might “sip margaritas on the beach with Federer and Nadal and just reflect.” His current focus remains solely on the matches ahead.
“Wimbledon remains the most special tournament in my heart, the one I dreamt of winning as a child, so making history here is exceptionally significant for me,” Djokovic concluded. “It`s the start of the tournament, so yes, I am conscious of the history at stake and my fortunate position to pursue it. However, my focus is simultaneously on achieving great things in this tournament.”
Marcus Bellamy