The clock’s ticking, and Novak Djokovic knows it. The 38-year-old Serbian is chasing history, again, as he hunts for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title. But Father Time doesn’t play favorites, and tennis has a brutal habit of moving on. While Djokovic has already secured his spot as one of the greatest of all time, the sport he once dominated now belongs to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Since his last major win at the 2023 US Open, the duo have swept all the Grand Slams between them. So, can he still break through in this new era of tennis? A former ATP legend has a bold prediction on if and when it might happen!
He came close at Wimbledon 2025. Djokovic had a strong run, including a quarterfinal win over Flavio Cobolli, but a nasty fall at the end of that match left him visibly compromised. Though he pushed through to the semifinals, he was clearly struggling and fell in straight sets—3-6, 3-6, 4-6—to world No. 1 and eventual champion Jannik Sinner. The former world No. 1, now ranked sixth, also made the final four at both the Australian Open and French Open earlier this season. But each time, the title remained just out of reach.
Djokovic also pulled out of the Canadian Open this year due to injury. Though, to be fair, he has often skipped the event in recent years to save himself for bigger stages. At this point, his calendar revolves around one thing: Grand Slams. According to We Love Tennis, former ATP pro and tennis entertainer Mansour Bahrami shared his thoughts on Djokovic’s chances of winning another Slam during Roland Garros’ Courtside Conversations podcast. He said, “Honestly, I thought Djokovic had a chance and I know he wants to win his 25th Grand Slam, so I thought he was going to make it. But then he hurt himself, and we know how it went. I thought he was going to make it. I know it will get harder and harder.”
The Iranian-Frenchman further said, “For me, it was… Wimbledon may have been the last, so it would be incredible, and he accomplished so many incredible things that we are all amazed by his exploits. He is a great champion, he has won everything, so is he able, at almost 39 years old, to win the Australian Open? I would say that if there is one, it would be the Australian Open. But it’s going to be very, very difficult.”
Tennis: Australian Open Jan 15, 2025 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Novak Djokovic of Serbia gestures during his match against Jaime Faria of Portugal in the second round of the men s singles at the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Melbourne Melbourne Park Victoria Australia, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMikexFreyx 20250114_lbm_zg6_660
It’s no surprise Bahrami is eyeing the Australian Open. Novak Djokovic has made Melbourne Park his personal fortress. With 10 titles under his belt, no man in the Open Era has won more there. Even this year, the 38-year-old showed glimpses of magic, beating Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. But a muscle tear crushed his chances as he was forced to withdraw during his semifinal showdown with Alexander Zverev. Still, if there’s one place he could pull off the 25th, it might just be Australia.
But not everyone thinks the fairytale finish is in the cards.
Veteran Tennis Journalist Makes Bold Prediction About Novak Djokovic’s Retirement
No matter the tournament, one question always lingers after Djokovic walks off the court: how much longer will he keep going? After falling short at the last three Grand Slams this season, he now turns his focus to the upcoming US Open, where he’ll chase a fifth title in New York.
Veteran tennis journalist Steve Flink believes Novak Djokovic could call it quits sooner than fans expect. Speaking to Gill Gross, Flink said, “I think if he came to New York and didn’t go that far and had a surprising loss in the R16, then I think he might think seriously and say, ‘There’s no point.’ ‘How is this going to get better next year? I’m going to turn 39. Why would my body react better?’”
That’s not a far-fetched scenario. The Serbian superstar’s US Open title defense last year ended with a shock third-round loss to Alexei Popyrin. Jannik Sinner, on the other hand, went all the way to win the title. Now, with the 2025 edition just around the corner, he is under pressure to deliver.
He’s lifted the trophy in New York four times before: 2011, 2015, 2018, and most recently in 2023. The next big test awaits in New York, but time is no longer a luxury. Will he add one more chapter to his Grand Slam legacy, or will the spotlight shift for good? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
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