Novak Djokovic 2024 review: No Grand Slams – but the one title he wanted
With the dust settling on the 2024 season, we’re looking back on how some of tennis’ biggest names fared over the year.
Here, we look at the highs and lows of Novak Djokovic’s season, and what could lie in wait for the 24-time Grand Slam champion in 2024.
Positives
There can be no arguing about the standout moment of Djokovic’s year: his golden triumph at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The 37-year-old’s Olympic history had been fraught until that point, with just one bronze medal – and plenty of heartbreaking defeats – to his name across four previous games.
His performance in the final against Carlos Alcaraz was extraordinary, going toe to toe with the title favourite before producing two superb tiebreaks to seal a 7-6(3), 7-6(2) triumph.
Djokovic became the oldest player to win an Olympic singles title since the sport was re-introduced in 1988, and is also just the third man to complete the ‘Golden Slam’.
Elsewhere, he reached a record-extending 37th Grand Slam final at Wimbledon and also was a semi-finalist back at the Australian Open, results that aren’t exactly disastrous.
He was also the runner-up at the Shanghai Masters and despite playing just 10 events in 2024 – 11 including the United Cup – he still managed to finish the year as the world No 7.
A 37-9 record for the season secures an impressive win percentage of 80.4% for the year, a win rate only bettered by Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz in the men’s game.
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Negatives
Though his Wimbledon and Australian Open results are not bad on paper, Djokovic’s first Slamless season since 2017 came following a 2023 season where he went 27-1 at the majors.
Few would have predicted that at the start of 2024, and there is no doubt that the likes of Sinner and Alcaraz leapfrogged him at the Slams.
Frustratingly for Djokovic, he looked like a significant contender at the French Open, only for a meniscus injury to rule him out of his quarter-final – ending hopes of a fourth Roland Garros title.
Uncharacteristic losses to Luca Nardi (Indian Wells Round 3), Alexei Popyrin (US Open Round 3), and Alejandro Tabilo (Italian Open Round 3) occurred more frequently in what was certainly a testing year at points.
The manner of losses to Sinner (Australian Open and Shanghai) and Alcaraz (Wimbledon) may also be a concern, with those matches comparatively one-sided compared to his previous matches against the duo.
What next?
Djokovic will have a tougher time at the Slams next season, starting at the Australian Open, due to his rankings fall.
Having begun 2024 as the world No 1, the 37-year-old is set to be the seventh seed in Melbourne – and will face being drawn in the same quarter as one of the top four seeds.
However, excitingly for Djokovic and many of those watching, his new partnership with Andy Murray can only increase his motivation for the coming 12 months.
Murray will provide a fresh outlook and perspective for his former rival who, as shown at points in 2024, is still one of the main men to beat.
Assessment
2024 was undoubtedly a challenging period for Djokovic after a notable period of sustained dominance from 2018-2023.
However, his gold in Paris was arguably the moment of the season from a neutral perspective and means that his 2024 should never be perceived as an unsuccessful one.
Rating: 7/10
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