Novak Djokovic has always been a powerhouse at the Australian Open, but Todd Woodbridge believes things might change in 2025. This year, Djokovic had a memorable moment when he finally snagged an Olympic gold medal. He put on an incredible serving display to defeat Carlos Alcaraz with scores of 7-6, 7-6.
Yet, this season was quite different for him. For the first time since 2017, he didn’t win any Grand Slam titles, remaining stuck at his record-breaking total of 24. His closest shot came at Wimbledon when he reached the final but couldn’t match Roger Federer‘s eight titles there after Alcaraz defeated him.
Despite his age and challenges from younger players like Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz, Djokovic remains a formidable player. At the Australian Open semifinals, Sinner beat him and secured his spot as world No. 1 after Alcaraz’s loss in Shanghai.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic | 37 | 8,360 | 18 - 6 |
Rising Stars and Challenges
Sinner and Alcaraz have taken over the Grand Slam scene in 2024, sharing all four titles between them. Their recent clash at the China Open was intense; Alcaraz emerged victorious with a scoreline of 6-7, 6-4, 7-6. Fans might wonder if these young stars will continue to dominate or if Djokovic will stage another comeback.
Djokovic’s Olympic performance showed he’s still got it, but maintaining that level consistently is tough as he ages. His achievements are unmatched in tennis history due to his dedication to staying fit and competitive.
Woodbridge suggests that being seen as an underdog might actually benefit Djokovic by giving him more freedom next year at the Australian Open. “He’s coming into a very different phase,” Woodbridge said about Djokovic focusing mainly on major tournaments now.
“Because he didn’t win a major this year,” Woodbridge continued, “he actually comes in as a bit of an underdog… I think it’s probably going to bring him freedom.”
Predicting Djokovic as an underdog is bold given his ten victories in Melbourne! But writing off someone like him could be unwise; he’s silenced critics before and might do so again by clinching his eleventh title there.
Before we get to see what happens next year though, there’s still more tennis action left in 2024—like Rafael Nadal‘s farewell at Davis Cup Finals before retiring from professional play! What do you think about these changes?
