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Important SN update for SouthlandIs Wimbledon Djokovic's last realistic shot at a major?
Sean A'Hearn • July 2nd, 2025 12:20 pm
The writing's on the wall for Novak Djokovic.
Since winning his highly sought-after gold medal at the Paris Olympics last year, the Serbian great has only added one title to his unparalleled trophy cabinet.
More importantly, he is without a Grand Slam title since the 2023 US Open.
For most players, this would be a ridiculous statement, but for Novak, we're so used to him winning at least one Slam per year.
Sharing the last six majors between them, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have firmly established themselves as the best two players in the world, and the gap appears to be widening.
The last time Djokovic went at least six Grand Slams without winning one was Wimbledon 2016 until Wimbledon 2018.
He was seven years younger then, and Alcaraz and Sinner have taken the game to new heights, previously set by the 'Big Three' (five if you count Murray and Wawrinka).
Never one to baulk at a challenge, there's something about Novak that has softened lately. His usual desire to win major titles and break records doesn't seem to be there anymore.
Four-time major champion Jim Courier believes Novak's body language indicates the end is near after his defeat to Sinner at Roland-Garros.
"My big takeaway from this match is if I see his emotional state like this at Wimbledon and at the US Open, when he's playing a match of this magnitude against a player of this magnitude, and he's not snarling, if he's smiling. Yeah, he's on his way out," the former World No. 1 relayed on TNT Sports.
Courier added, "I mean, time's undefeated, but that was not representative of the emotional state when he's played his best tennis. He's always looking for edges in angles and things to get him motivated. He was smiling in combat. That's Alcaraz's MO. That's never been Novak's."
It would be foolish to underestimate someone who is already, for many, the greatest tennis player of all time, but Father Time finally appears to be catching up to him. He has also created a monster in Sinner, a man who, for many tennis fans, is Novak Djokovic 2.0.
If there is one more push for Novak to win a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, however, it is indeed Wimbledon.
The London grass is conducive to his game. There are fewer long exchanges and physical wear and tear. He has experience and tactical intelligence on his side, which bodes well on the grass, and, of course, confidence gained from having won seven times at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
When asked in his pre-tournament press conference whether his approaching Wimbledon campaign could be his last dance, the former world No.1 could only reply with three words: "I'm not sure," before agreeing that it might present as his best chance to win another major.
While conceding that Sinner and Alcaraz are still a level above, three-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist Feliciano López still believes Novak has a decent chance on the hallowed grass at SW19.
"He's not at the levels of Carlos and Jannik, especially in the last 18 months, because the numbers speak for themselves, but the way he played against Sinner surprised me," the Spaniard told Sky Sports Tennis.
"He challenged Sinner and pushed him to the limit, and although the gap is still big, I see the grass as the only place for him to get to this level that they play because the grass is very different.
"Djokovic proved that he can still compete at this level, but he will have a better chance on grass."
Other than the surface suiting Novak's game style, tactical prowess and age, we also know what he can do when he puts his mind to something. He has achieved everything you could possibly achieve in tennis. Even that elusive Olympic gold medal, which for so long many thought was out of his grasp, is now his cherished possession.
He has proved all the naysayers wrong, and he has rewritten history time and time again in the process.
While he certainly appears to be slowing down, winning his 100th title in Geneva proves that the man is still chasing history.
Should he claim glory at the most famous postcode in tennis, Novak would tie Roger Federer's record with the most Wimbledon titles (8) and become the oldest Grand Slam champion of all time at 38. And, of course, a record-breaking 25 Grand Slam singles titles - the most of any tennis player, male or female.
If anyone could do it, it's Novak.
With Sinner now the king of hard court and Alcaraz the new king of clay, Wimbledon may be Novak's last real chance to prove he's the all-time king of grass.
Should he achieve this, he would stand alone in the record books and, if he isn't already, indisputably crowned the greatest tennis player of all time.
If that isn't enough motivation, I don't know what is.
