Novak Djokovic aims for Grand Slam victories in 2025

One would expect a 37-year-old sportsperson to ease up in his play, enjoying the twilight of his career. However, that assumption changes when the player in question is Novak Djokovic. The Serbian legend has left nothing to prove in his illustrious tennis career. At 37, he completed a career Golden Slam by claiming the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Yet, achieving a Golden Slam is not a signal for Djokovic to slow down in his pursuit of excellence. In a recent interaction, Djokovic expressed his determination to make a strong comeback next season and compete for Grand Slam titles against reigning champions Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

Novak Djokovic confident to rise against Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in the next ATP season

In his recent interaction, the Serbian star remained optimistic about surpassing his performance in 2024. While Djokovic won the Olympics gold, his run on the ATP Tour fared without a Grand Slam title. The current World No.1, Jannik Sinner claimed the Australian Open and the US Open. Meanwhile, Carlos Alacaraz beat Djokovic in the Wimbledon final. The Spaniard then went on to win the Roland Garros as Sinner and Alcaraz shared the Grand Slams between each other this season. Djokovic concluded his season early as he pulled out of the Paris Masters tournament and subsequently from the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.

However, with a fresh rigour and a new coach, Andy Murray, Djokovic is ready to take on the 2025 ATP season. The Serbian believes he can rival the rising forces of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, provided his physical condition holds up. This year marked a challenging phase for Djokovic, as he failed to clinch a Grand Slam for the first time since 2017. Reflecting on what he described as his "least rewarding season in a decade," Djokovic acknowledged the impact of private matters on his performance.

"Physically and mentally I am ready to play my tennis again. I have a feeling that I can challenge Sinner, Alcaraz, and (Alexander) Zverev. My experience can be useful. So next year I will play more tournaments and the Slams in particular will be my priority: I will give my best to win, of course, if my body allows me to," Djokovic said.

Djokovic faced tough battles against Sinner, who defeated him in the semifinals of the Australian Open and the final of the Shanghai Masters. Sinner also prevailed in their exhibition match in Riyadh at the Six Kings Slam event. The 23-year-old Italian had an extraordinary season, claiming a total of eight titles, including his maiden ATP Finals crown, and ending the year as the World No.1.

Djokovic expressed no surprise at Sinner’s rise, acknowledging the young star’s exceptional level of play. The two players have faced each other eight times, splitting their head-to-head record evenly at four wins apiece. Djokovic’s last victory over Sinner came during the 2023 ATP Finals, where he lifted the trophy. However, Sinner's momentum has shifted the rivalry in his favor, leaving Djokovic determined to reclaim his dominance in the coming season.

"I remember Sinner when he was 14 or 15 years old and, even then, we talked about him: you could see that he would have a great career because he already had the right mentality and the right concentration," Djokovic said about Sinner.