Over 660 days have passed since Novak Djokovic last claimed a major singles title. That historic moment occurred in September 2023 at the US Open, where his victory over Daniil Medvedev brought him level with Margaret Court`s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
At that time, it seemed inevitable that Djokovic would soon hold the outright record. Since then, his great rival Rafael Nadal has retired, leaving Djokovic as the sole active member of the “Big Three.” Despite reaching a Wimbledon final, three other major semifinals, and even securing an Olympic gold medal, the 25th major title has remained just out of reach for the 38-year-old. Following his emotional loss to Jannik Sinner in the French Open semifinals last month, he mused that it “could have been the last match ever” he played there, hinting at potential retirement.
The question of when his remarkable career might end has been present for a while, but his recent comments have placed a virtual countdown on his pursuit of tennis immortality and that elusive record. Now, at Wimbledon, a tournament he has conquered seven times, many observers and fellow players speculate that this fortnight represents his prime – perhaps final – opportunity to secure major title number 25.
Having progressed to the third round with a dominant 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 victory over Dan Evans on Thursday, and displaying strong form in his initial matches, the sixth-seeded Djokovic`s play supports this assessment. He himself is candid about the situation.
“Whether it could be my last dance, I`m not sure, as I`m not sure about Roland Garros or any other Slam that I play next,” Djokovic stated during his pre-tournament press conference. He added that he wished to continue playing, but was uncertain if he would be able to.
“And yes, I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance because of the results I have had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon, just getting that extra push mentally and motivation to, yeah, perform the best tennis at the highest level.”
Currently, five potential matches separate him from the title, including possible encounters with his current primary rivals, Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. If he were to succeed, he would become the oldest male player in the Open era to win a Grand Slam and would tie Roger Federer`s record for the most men`s singles titles at the All England Club. Twenty years after his Wimbledon debut, numerous factors are in his favor, and the stakes are incredibly high. Can he achieve it?
To be clear, Djokovic`s place among the sport`s all-time greats is already secure, regardless of future victories. His accomplishments speak volumes. He holds more major men`s singles titles than anyone, an ATP record 428 weeks at No. 1, eight year-end No. 1 finishes, 40 Masters-1000 titles, 100 ATP trophies overall, seven ATP Finals crowns, and two Olympic medals, including a coveted gold. For many, his status as the greatest of all time was cemented after his 2023 US Open win.
Even if external validation isn`t necessary, Djokovic has consistently expressed a desire to continue competing and winning. Finishing the 2023 season with another ATP Finals title and the year-end No. 1 ranking, he spoke of ambitious goals for 2024, including winning all four Slams and Olympic gold. He affirmed that motivation for major tournaments remains strong.
However, fate, along with the rise of Sinner and Alcaraz, intervened. Djokovic lost to Sinner in the 2024 Australian Open semifinal and withdrew from the French Open quarterfinals due to a knee injury requiring surgery. He reached the Wimbledon final for the sixth consecutive year but lost to Alcaraz again. While he achieved his Olympic gold dream by defeating Alcaraz in Paris, he was subsequently upset in the US Open third round. He seemed in strong form at the Australian Open in January 2025, beating Alcaraz before retiring in the semifinal due to a hamstring injury.
Throughout these challenges, Djokovic has been open about fluctuating motivation, particularly noting the absence of Federer, Nadal, and Andy Murray from the tour. Since Djokovic`s last major win, Sinner (23) and Alcaraz (22) have claimed all subsequent Grand Slam titles. Djokovic has had mixed results against Alcaraz recently but has lost all three encounters against Sinner since the start of 2024.
These two younger stars have established themselves as the new leading duo, positioning Djokovic somewhat as the challenger, reminiscent of his early career against Federer and Nadal. However, Djokovic maintains this perception doesn`t alter his major approach.
“In a sense you`re always hunting because you`re always going for the titles – in my also privileged position – the records and more history,” Djokovic commented. “I do feel that I`m always in that position of going for something with the attitude of trying to win rather than trying to defend… I would say it`s slightly different for me now in terms of, I don`t chase the rankings anymore in that regard, [but] I`m trying to play the best tennis in Grand Slams and trying to win Grand Slams. That hasn`t changed. It still stays the same.”
Through his first two matches at Wimbledon this week, especially the second round, Djokovic has demonstrated an increasingly high level of play. He clinically dismantled Britain`s Dan Evans, showcasing an 89% first-serve win rate and hitting 46 winners in a match lasting just 1 hour and 47 minutes.
“The bottom line is, it`s pretty obvious why he`s as good as he is on that court,” Evans remarked post-match. “He played good tennis and showed everybody on Centre Court why he`s a contender.”
Djokovic told the crowd his game plan was executed “perfectly,” calling it one of those days where “everything goes your way.” The win marked his 19th advancement to the Round of 32 at Wimbledon. His next opponent is fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic on Saturday, with a spot in the second week and a chance for his 100th career Wimbledon win at stake. Djokovic has won all three prior meetings, including one at Wimbledon in 2022.
Grass has historically been very well-suited to Djokovic`s style and remains the surface where he holds a significant advantage. Despite not growing up playing on grass, he has masterfully adapted his movement, using his flexibility and footwork to cover the court efficiently. Coupled with his powerful serve and elite return, he handles the low bounce and varying speed of the grass surface better than almost any other player. While some suggest Wimbledon`s courts have slowed, Djokovic notes the ball might be a factor, but he has adapted regardless of the pace.
Grass is also the softest surface, absorbing impact differently – a factor that could certainly benefit an aging player with recent leg injuries.
Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion, believes grass is now Djokovic`s best opportunity. “I think his game as it stands currently — not Novak from five years ago — but as it stands currently, I think he gets the most benefit from the surface on grass now. And he knows what to do with it,” Roddick commented recently.
If Djokovic wins on Saturday, his likely fourth-round opponent would be No. 11 seed Alex de Minaur. While fourth seed Jack Draper was the presumed quarterfinal opponent, he lost, potentially opening up the draw for Djokovic against opponents like Marin Cilic or Jakub Mensik. Sinner would likely await in the semifinals; though Sinner has had recent success against Djokovic, he has never advanced past that stage at Wimbledon.
A final appearance could set up a third consecutive Wimbledon championship match against Alcaraz, considered the favorite. While defeating both Sinner and Alcaraz back-to-back on this stage would be incredibly challenging, it is not outside the realm of possibility for Djokovic.
Former world No. 12 Feliciano López also sees grass as Djokovic`s best chance against the new guard. “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 [at the French Open] surprised me,” López said. “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 [and] he will have a better chance on grass.”
Djokovic is a deep thinker about the game and is well aware of the stakes. Yet, basking in the Wimbledon atmosphere on Thursday, he mentioned that he doesn`t dwell on past achievements, saving that for a future day of relaxation and reflection with Federer and Nadal. Instead, his focus is entirely on the immediate challenge.
“Wimbledon still stays the most special tournament in my heart, the one that I always dreamed of winning when I was a kid, so any history made here is obviously extra special for me,” Djokovic shared. “It`s the beginning of the tournament, so yes, I`m aware of the history on the line and I`m obviously in a privileged position to do that, but at the same time, I`m thinking about the big things that I can make in this tournament.”
