600 It has been 62 days since Novak Jjokovic last won the major title.
That day, in September 2023, a history-study performance at the US Open, he defeated Danil Medvedev and linked Margaret Court’s long-standing record with 24 of the most grand slam singles titles ever.
It seemed certain that Djokovic would ultimately insist on the full record.
Since then, his biggest rival, Rafael Nadal, has retired from the sport, and Djokovic has become the sole member of the Big Three. (Other member Roger Federer retired in 2022.) Djokovic, now 38, has reached the Wimbledon final, making three other major semi-finals and earning Olympic Gold, but the coveted record remains elusive. He was emotional when he walked out of court after losing to Janik Sinner in the semi-finals at the French Open last month. He later told reporters, “it could have been the last game I’ve ever had,” and played in the tournament and hinted at his retirement.
Without mentioning his inevitable end in sports, there were already looming question marks about every major he played. But there is an almost countdown clock to his chance to secure his dreams and tennis immortality by making it clear that he knows it too. And now, at Wimbledon, the event he has won seven times, many people around the game have publicly speculated that the last two weeks will be his chance to win his best, and perhaps the final major title No. 25.
After clinically beating Dan Evans over Dan Evans 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 on Thursday, he entered the third round and seemed almost dominant in his first two games, the play of No. 6 seed Djokovic supported this claim. And he doesn’t hide it as knowing it.
“I’m not sure if that might be my last dance. I’m not sure about Roland Garros or the other slams I’ll play next,” Djokovic said at his press conference before the tournament began.
He added that he wanted to continue playing, but admitted he was sure he could.
“Yes, I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance for the outcome I felt, mentally pushing that extra push for a play at Wimbledon, and for the outcome I had, perhaps the best chance.”
For now, five matches, and potentially his two biggest rivals, Cinner and Carlos Alcaraz, are in his way. If he did that, he would become the oldest player in the open era to win a slam, and he matched Roger Federer with the most men’s singles title at the All-England club. Twenty years after his debut in the tournament, so many have favored him, with his stakes higher than ever. Can he do that?
To be clearDjokovic doesn’t have to win another match to secure his spot in the sport’s biggest position.
His resume already speaks for itself. He has more major titles than any man in history and spent a 428-week ATP record ranked number one, including holding eight year-end distinctions. He combined 40 Masters-1000 titles and 100 ATP trophies, won the ATP Final Crown seven times, and won two Olympic medals including the very decisive gold he secured in Paris last summer, the list continues, the list continues Above. For many, Djokovic solidified his position two years ago after his victory in New York.
“There’s always a discussion of water coolers, but it’s going to be harder and much more difficult for everyone to discuss in other directions that are the best with him at age 24 and other than Novak.”
But even if the others didn’t need any more persuasiveness, Djokovic made it clear that he wanted to continue and continue winning as many titles as possible. After he finished the 2023 season with another ATP Finals title and the year-end top rankings, he even had a higher goal in 2024.
“Well, you can win four slams and Olympic gold,” Djokovic said. “I have always had the best ambitions and goals, and that won’t make a difference next year…Motivation still exists, especially in the biggest tournaments of the sport.
Of course, Destiny and Sinner and Alkaraz had other ideas. Djokovic lost to a criminal in the semi-finals at the 2024 Australia Open and had to withdraw in the quarter-finals at the French Open and undergo surgery on the inside of the meniscus of his right knee. He returned to Wimbledon and made the finals – in his sixth consecutive – but lost to Alcaraz for the second consecutive year. He achieved his lifelong dream of winning Olympic Gold with an electric victory over Alcaraz, and was later unraveled in the third round of the US by Alexei Popilin.
Djokovic appears to be in close proximity to the peak at the Australian Open in January, beating Alkaraz in four sets in the quarterfinals and had to retire after the opening of the semi-finals due to a hamstring injury. Throughout his struggle, Djokovic has spoken openly about his declining motivations and how difficult it was to continue with Nadal, Federer and Andy Murray.
Since Djokovic’s victory at the US Open, the 23-year-old sinner and the 22-year-old Alkaraz have been combined to win all majors. Djokovic has been successful to some extent against Alkaraz in the past year, but has not won all three meetings against the sinners since the beginning of 2024.
The duo are trying to seize Djokovic as the new Big 2 on the outside and try to pull the upset apart. However, Djokovic said it was little important to get into the majors with him and his approach.
“In a way, you’re always hunting because you’re always looking for a title – in my privileged position, record and more history,” Djokovic said on Saturday. “I feel like I’m always in a position where I want something with an attitude of winning rather than defending… I think it’s a little different for me right now, and I’m not chasing the rankings anymore in that respect (but I’m trying to play the best tennis in the Grand Slams.”
With his two matches at Wimbledon this week, particularly his second round victory, Djokovic exhibited an increasingly high level of tennis. He was merciless and overwhelmed England’s Evans, winning 89% on his first serve and 46 winners (Evans’ 19) in a clash that lasted just an hour and 47 minutes.
“The bottom line is clear why he’s as good as he’s in that court,” Evans said after the match. “He played good tennis and showed everyone on the centre court why he was a candidate.”
Djokovic told the audience after the match, after carrying out the “perfect” game plan for the match, saying it was one of the eras where “everything goes your way.” With the victory he made his 19th Wimbledon to round 32. He then faces Serbian Mio Mile Keckmanovic on Saturday, and will have the chance to win his 100th career victory at the All England club in Week 2. Djokovic has won all three previous meetings, including Wimbledon in 2022.
There are always grasses in the grass Suitable for Djokovic’s playing style and remains the surface where he has the greatest advantage.
Although he didn’t play superficially as a child or as a junior, he is able to adapt his movements and cleverly uses his flexibility and footwork to cover the court. In addition to his powerful serve and returns, which are obvious advantages, he can handle the difference in bouncing conditions and grass speeds that are lower than most anyone. Some players say the speed of Wimbledon courts has slowed down in recent years, but Djokovic said on Thursday that grass is the fastest surface, but believes the ball used has changed the pace of play somewhat. He appears to be adjusted no matter how fast or slow the courts are.
Also, grass is the softest and absorbs shocks that are different from others – it can certainly benefit players aging from recent leg injuries.
But perhaps most useful to him, Djokovic has superficial experiences that others have little to do. Grass season is undoubtedly the shortest part of the calendar, separating the end of the French opening and the start of Wimbledon for just over three weeks, so few top players will take part in two or more warm-up events and will play nothing for a variety of reasons. With such a short window every year, it may be difficult for players to feel really comfortable on the surface, as is evident by the rash of top seed players who are upset in the first two rounds of play.
“I don’t know if the end will come, but I think his best chance will be on the grass,” said Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion and former world No. 1, in a recent episode of his “Serve” podcast. “His game isn’t Novak from five years ago now, but I think he’s currently profiting most from the grass surface, as he does now. And he knows what to do with it.”
If Djokovic wins on Saturday, he will likely face No. 11 Seedalex de Minaur in the fourth round. No. 4 seed and British favourite Jack Draper were estimated to be opponents of Djokovic’s extraordinary quarter-finals, but Draper lost to 2014 US Open champion, the seedless Marine Silick in the second round on Thursday. Cilic or Jakub Mensik, the No. 15 seed and teen star, is now a potential quarterly opponent, but Jjokovic’s draw feels more positive in Draper’s absence. The sinner will wait in the semi-finals, and although the sinner has been good at Djokovic at recent meetings, he has never made any progress past that stage at Wimbledon and lost in his only lead-in event in the 16th round.
If Djokovic were to participate in the championship match, he could set a third Wimbledon Final against his uncontroversial favorite, Alkaraz, to win the title. Defeating sinners and Alcarazs in succession in one of the sport’s most epic stages is difficult, but not impossible.
“He’s not on the level of Carlos and Giannik, especially for the last 18 months. The numbers speak for themselves, but the way he plays against the sinner (at the French Open) surprised me.” “He challenged the sinner and pushed him to the limit. And while the gap is still big, grass is so different, I think it’s the only place he plays. Djokovic has proven that he can still compete at this level (and) he’ll have a better chance in the grass.”
Djokovic is a game student and a fan, and few people can tell him about his chances and what he’s on in a crisis he doesn’t know yet. However, when he was soaked up in the worship of the fans and the sun on Thursday afternoon, he admitted not to let him think much about what he had already achieved – instead, he admitted to saving a future day where he could sipped a margarita on the beach with Federer and Nadal and just reflect – but he quickly focuses on being in front of him.
“Wimbledon continues to be the most special tournament in my heart. The history created here is clearly something special because I dreamed of winning as a child,” Djokovic said. “It’s the beginning of the tournament, so yes, I know the history of the line, and I’m clearly in a privileged position to do it, but at the same time, I’m thinking about the big things I can make in this tournament.”
