Novak Djokovic has never been one to take losing lightly. Did you know the 24-time Grand Slam champion has smashed a total of 62 rackets in his career? But lately, the Serb is wearing a different look—one that has people talking. After a near-perfect 2023, where he came within a match of completing the calendar Grand Slam, Djokovic has been stuck on 99 career titles for months. His only triumph in 2024? The Paris Olympics. That’s an unusual dry spell for the man who has dominated tennis for over a decade. And now, after a shocking loss to Botic van de Zandschulp in Indian Wells, a former WTA pro is wondering if the 37-year-old is starting to feel a little too at ease with defeat.
Novak Djokovic was playing just his second match since retiring from the Australian Open. In his previous tournament in Doha, he was ousted in his opening match by Matteo Berrettini. Next up? Indian Wells, a place where he once ruled with a three-peat from 2014 to 2016, being the only player except Roger Federer to achieve such a feat. However, it didn’t offer a better outcome. The former World No.1 fell 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 against Van de Zandschulp, suffering his third straight defeat for just the second time since 2008. After his loss, Djokovic admitted, “You know, things are different obviously for me the last couple of years. I’ve been struggling to play on the desired level. Every now and then, I have couple good tournaments, but mostly it’s really a challenge. It’s a struggle for me.I guess nothing can prepare you for that moment, in a sense. You have to experience it and try to deal with it in the best possible way.”
But former World No.9, Coco Vandeweghe, noticed something different in his words. She said, I do think that… is this Novak getting too comfortable with ‘I’m okay with losing?’ And it’s a weird feeling as a player when you have a couple of losses like that, where you see him in the press room, he’s a little bit too smiley, and you’ve got to think is he not as mentally tough as he once was?And you’ve just got to question that a little bit. I still think you can’t count out the GOAT in any tournament, in any situation, but I do question are we getting a little bit too comfortable with these guys beating you in these 1000 events? “Because we know Novak is looking at Slams, but are we getting a little bit too comfortable, and maybe that will happen at a Slam?”
And apparently, Vandeweghe wasn’t the only one with doubts.
Former Russian pro and coach predicts ‘tennis death’ for Novak Djokovic
Even before Indian Wells’ loss, Former Russian tennis pro and current coach Dmitry Tursunov had weighed in with an even stronger statement. “His own body is now his greatest opponent. No matter how he plans to cheat time, ‘tennis death’ will await him.”
It’s a harsh take, but not entirely unfounded. Injuries have started creeping up on Novak Djokovic. In 2024, he had to retire before his quarterfinal match at the French Open due to a knee injury. In 2025, he pulled out mid-match in the Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev with a muscle tear.
So, is Father Time finally catching up? The ‘Serbinator’ has built a career on defying expectations, but even he isn’t immune to the wear and tear of a 20-year grind. Next on his schedule is the Miami Open, a tournament he has won six times—joint most with Andre Agassi. But he hasn’t played there since 2019. When asked if he would make his return this year, Djokovic was non-committal. “Still haven’t talked with Andy and the team, so going to do that and make a plan,” he said, referring to his coach and ex-British tennis legend Andy Murray.
What do you think—is Novak Djokovic in a temporary slump, or is the toll of his legendary career finally catching up?
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