Doubts raised over Novak Djokovic’s 25th Grand Slam hopes, but better news for 100th ATP title
There is no doubt that Novak Djokovic will secure a 100th ATP Tour singles title in the coming months, but tennis presenter Gigi Salmon admits she has doubts that he will win a 25th Grand Slam trophy.
All-time great Djokovic has been stuck on 99 trophies since August last year when he completed his Career Golden Slam by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the gold medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
He has played seven tournaments since that historic event in France, but the 100th title remains elusive with his best performances a couple of runners-up trophies at the Shanghai Masters last October and last week’s Miami Open.
The 37-year-old came up against inspired teenager Jakub Mensik in the ATP Masters 1000 final in Florida on Sunday as he lost in straight sets and Salmon concedes it is no longer a walk in the park for Djokovic.
“Things tend to get harder with age: recovery from strenuous exercise, a big night out and in some cases achieving our goals and dreams, something 37-year-old Novak Djokovic is finding as his quest for title 100 continues,” she wrote in her latest Sky Sports Tennis column.
“He came so close at the weekend in Miami, reaching his eighth final there and 142nd overall. He did it without dropping a set, with movement, serve, everything on point, until he faced 19-year-old Jakub Mensik, who wasn’t born when Djokovic played his first Masters 1000 event and only began playing because of the Serb, his idol. It was Mensik’s first Masters 1000 final.”
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Djokovic’s wait for a 25th Grand Slam trophy has been even longer as he claimed his record-extending 24th major title at the 2023 US Open, but then failed to win any Slams last year.
The closest he came was at Wimbledon where he reached the final only to lose in straight sets against Alcaraz.
Salmon added: “When it comes to Djokovic, the articles celebrating a new record and new piece of history are written and ready to go and while I’m not certain the 25th Grand Slam will be won, I’m sure the 100th title will be secured, with his next opportunity the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo, a title he has won twice before but not since 2015.
“He seems to have renewed motivation, but the task doesn’t get any easier and one thing is clear: he will need to keep playing matches in order to have the sharpness and confidence to try for 25.”
Djokovic, who retired from his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev earlier this year due to a hamstring injury, will get another shot at Grand Slam trophy No 25 at the French Open in May.
But he will play in at least three tournaments before Roland Garros as after the Monte Carlo Masters he will take part in the Madrid Open before heading to Rome for the Italian Open.
