Novak Djokovic’s dominance at the Australian Open is legendary, but former doubles star Todd Woodbridge believes the Serbian might enter the 2025 edition as an underdog. Despite Djokovic’s long-standing success at the tournament—where he’s claimed an unprecedented ten titles—Woodbridge suggests the emergence of younger stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz could shift the balance.
Djokovic’s 2024 season has been memorable, largely due to his long-awaited Olympic gold medal. The 24-time Grand Slam champion put on a stunning serving performance to defeat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6, 7-6 in the final, filling the only major gap in his illustrious career. However, 2024 also marked the first year since 2017 that Djokovic did not win a Grand Slam title, a notable departure from his usual dominance.
His closest shot at another major came at Wimbledon, where he reached the final but fell short of tying Roger Federer’s record of eight men’s singles titles at SW19. Alcaraz dismantled Djokovic in the final, showcasing the skill and resilience that have made the young Spaniard one of the sport’s top contenders.
Djokovic also suffered a tough semifinal loss at the Australian Open to Jannik Sinner, who secured his place as the year-end world No. 1 after Alcaraz’s defeat to Tomas Machac in Shanghai. Sinner and Alcaraz, who split the four Grand Slam titles between them in 2024, have formed a new rivalry at the top of men’s tennis. Their recent battle at the China Open in Beijing, where Alcaraz edged out Sinner 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, further highlighted their dominance and the challenge they pose to Djokovic’s quest for more titles.
At 37, Djokovic continues to defy the odds, showing his brilliance at the Olympics. However, as Woodbridge notes, maintaining that level of performance consistently becomes harder with age. While Djokovic’s longevity and fitness are unprecedented, Sinner and Alcaraz’s rise makes the competition tougher.
Woodbridge believes this shift might actually benefit Djokovic. “He’s coming into a very different and unusual phase of his career,” said Woodbridge, referring to Djokovic’s reduced schedule and increased focus on the majors. “He actually comes in as a bit of an underdog… I think it’s probably going to bring him freedom in the way that he approaches it.”
Despite the underdog label, ruling out Djokovic would be a mistake. He has repeatedly proven his doubters wrong and could do so again by capturing an 11th Australian Open title in 2025.
But before then, the 2024 season isn’t over, with Rafael Nadal set to make his final professional appearance at the Davis Cup Finals before retiring.
Leave a Reply