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Is Grand Slam No. 25 realistic? Rating Novak Djokovic’s 2025 Australian Open chances
Lachlan Geleit • January 13th, 2025 1:42 pm
Novak Djokovic has the chance to create history at the 2025 Australian Open as he chases grand slam title number 25.
Currently, Djokovic holds a record 24 grand slam singles titles, the same as Australia’s Margaret Court.
While the Serbian returns to his happy hunting ground at Melbourne Park where he’s won 10 Australian Open singles titles, SEN tennis expert Brett Phillips isn’t sure whether the No. 7 seed will ever reach that elusive 25th title with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz looming large.
“I've raised doubts probably over all of the last 12 months that he can win another one,” Phillips told SEN Afternoons.
“Just from the evidence I'm seeing, in the best of five big matches like semis and finals, I don't know if he can go with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, these two standout young guns.
“Now, if it's Djokovic who can get through his side, and one of those maybe falls over and has an earlier-than-expected exit and someone from the bottom half of the top 10 faces Novak in a final, that’s a different picture.
“But Alcaraz and Sinner … their level is extraordinary. A 37-year-old soon-to-be 38-year-old Djokovic, can he go step for step in these big rallies with these guys? I’ve got my doubts.”
Andy Murray lost to Djokovic in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Australian Open finals | Photo: AP
While Phillips isn’t confident in Djokovic in Melbourne, he does think it’s his best chance of ever reaching No. 25 given his age and record in Australia compared to the other three slams.
“Look, he's only probably got one more in his career, Djokovic,” Phillips said.
“He only needs another to go into a totally different conversation. That’s to get to a number 25 that no one's ever got to, men or women.
“If it doesn't happen in Australia, I don't think it'll happen as the year goes on when he's got a bit more wear and tear on that body.”
Djokovic opens up his 2025 Australian Open men’s singles campaign against USA’s Nishesh Basavareddy at Rod Laver Arena on Monday evening.
