Could 2025 Australian Open Be Djokovic’s Grand Finale?
The blazing fire of the golden era of men’s tennis has been reduced to dying embers without Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, but Novak Djokovic can send one last flame shooting into the Melbourne sky at this year’s Australian Open.
Having ticked Olympic champion off his wishlist in Paris, Djokovic has the record for most Grand Slam singles titles in his sights and few would bet against him walking off Rod Laver Arena on January 26th with the unprecedented 25th title.
Yes, at 37, the body is no longer what it was and yes, world number one Jannik Sinner won both of their contests last year, but the fierce drive that made Serbia’s favourite son the most successful male player of all time endures.
“My main motivation comes from love and passion for the sport, and also the desire to keep competing,” Djokovic said after losing to Sinner in the Shanghai Masters final in his last outing of 2024.
“These are kind of the matches and challenges that I still strive for, to be in a position to play against the best players in the world, on the biggest stage, in the finals of some of the biggest tournaments in the world.”
In 2024, Djokovic failed to win a Grand Slam for the first time since 2017 – his other loss to Sinner came in the Melbourne semis – but he proved he was still a sensational tennis player on his day when he beat Carlos Alcaraz to win Olympic gold.
There could be no place more appropriate for Djokovic to finally break free of his tie with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam singles titles than in her own backyard at Melbourne Park, where he has won the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup 10 times.
Djokovic, like Court, won his first major at the Australian Open and he can end the debate definitively on his 22nd visit to Melbourne as a professional.
Reuters/Chidi Nwoke.
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