Novak Djokovic has lost an important weapon

2024 was a rather difficult year for Novak Djokovic, at least until now. The Serbian champion has had disappointing results for a player of his caliber and struggled to find the right pace during the season. The former world number 1 has achieved one of his greatest dreams by winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, but he struggled much more than expected in the Grand Slam tournaments.

James Blake and Novak Djokovic© YouTube screenshot

The 37-year-old from Belgrade has not won a single Major this year and reached the final only at the Wimbledon Championships, losing sharply to young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. The 24-time Grand Slam champion did not even shine in the last Grand Slam of the season, the US Open, being eliminated already in the third round by the Australian ace Alexei Popyrin.

Due to the semi-final reached by Taylor Fritz in New York, Nole would not be participating in the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin at this time. Djokovic will need to do well in the latter part of the season if he is to defend last year’s title in Turin. A few weeks ago, it was announced that the Serbian legend would participate in the Masters 1000 in Shanghai after a long absence. Novak will try to earn ATP points in the coming months and regain confidence ahead of 2025.

Nole is in trouble

It’s only the first time since 2017 that Djokovic has finished a season without winning a single Grand Slam title and the second time since 2011. Nole had not accustomed his fans to times of similar difficulties. The constant advancing of age, the loss of motivation, some physical ailments too much, have led the Serbian star to live one of the worst seasons of his career, from a physical point of view. The only high-pitched experience of the former number one in this season was that Olympic gold he has sought so much during his career, but he had not managed to reach. Paradoxically, he did it in a season that, at least so far, has not yet seen him win an ATP title.

Novak Djokovic© YouTube screenshot

Martina Navratilova, former tennis legend, focused on the moment of the Serbian champion. His words to the Sky Sport microphones: “He got what he really wanted, which is the Olympic gold medal, but still wants the 25 Grand Slam to have one more than Margaret Court. Time will catch up with him, or maybe he has already done so, because in the last match he was not himself”, he said about his elimination in the third round at the US Open. “It all depends on how much fire is still burning. If it’s still on, I’ll never say “you shouldn’t play” because it will never stain his legacy, he’s incredibly good. I’m sure his wife says, “Is it time to retire, how many more do you need?” he joked.

About a possible retirement, Navratilova has clear ideas: “Maybe just another… but, on the other hand, if he wins the Australian Open, he will want to play Roland Garros and Wimbledon, right? He won’t stop there. It’s up to him. In any case, you can’t criticize because it’s a fantastic career. I would probably hang the racket on the nail, but if he likes to play then why not?” he concluded. The former world number 1 will play the Davis Cup tie against Greece on 14th and 15th September in Belgrade.

Djokovic has lost consistency

In the latest edition of the Rennae Stubbs’ podcast, Pam Shriver opened up on Nole’s current status: “Novak seems to have lost a little bit of that giant aura that he had that would make him start with a two love lead in each set. Obviously the French Open, the injury to the knee, the surgery on the meniscus … when you think about how he was before – just one tournament win in the year and that was Olympics, no ATP Tour wins as he got to the final of Wimbledon, semi-final of the Australian Open. That was probably foreshadowing his year when he couldn’t fire at the calibre he usually does in a semi-final of a major, losing to Sinner, then the injury at Roland Garros.”

Novak Djokovic, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot

Obviously he put all in to do one of thing in the sport he had not done, which is win an Olympic gold medal, and I don’t think there was enough time for even him to reset. He didn’t play Canada or Cincinnati, didn’t play a warm-up tournament. I don’t think he has been able to reset and establish his next big goal. Is it to get to 25 singles in majors, he’s got to have something to push him.”