Novak Djokovic’s hopes of becoming oldest major winner assessed by current record holder

Oli Dickson Jefford 16 Jul 2025 8:42 AM

Pictured: Novak Djokovic and Ken Rosewall.

Tennis icon Ken Rosewall admits that he “wouldn’t mind” Novak Djokovic breaking his record of being the oldest Grand Slam men’s singles champion of the Open Era.

World No 6 Djokovic has won a record 24 Grand Slam men’s singles titles across his legendary career, with at least three titles at all four major tournaments.

The Serbian is currently the third-oldest man to lift a Grand Slam title in the Open Era, having won at the 2023 US Open at the age of 36 years, three months, and six days.

Only Roger Federer at the 2018 Australian Open and Rosewall, at the 1971 and 1972 Australian Opens, have lifted major titles at an older age than him.

Now aged 38, Djokovic would break Rosewall’s 53-year-old record should he win a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.

And, the Serbian has threatened to do so this year, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon in 2025.

Some would perhaps be disappointed at their records being broken, but speaking to The Sit-Down, he revealed he would be fine with Djokovic eclipsing him.

“Either way, I wouldn’t mind, but Novak, you know, he deserves his record, what he has. He’s won more Grand Slams than anybody else, so another one wouldn’t hurt,” said Rosewall.

“For me, it was just one of those things. I mean, I stayed playing tennis and that’s what kept me playing well and kept me feeling well.”

Having won four major titles as an amateur in the 1950s, Rosewall returned to Grand Slam action at the start of the Open Era and lifted a further four titles, including the first Grand Slam of the Open Era at the 1968 French Open.

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The Australian would then lift the US Open title in 1970, before back-to-back triumphs at his home major the following two years.

In 1972, second seed Rosewall beat compatriots Dick Crealy and Allan Stone in the quarter and semi-finals, before defeating Mal Anderson in the final.

Rosewall added: “The field wasn’t as strong as it could’ve been because a lot of European players didn’t like to play on grass too much in Australia, and they never made the effort to play grasscourt tennis.

“So the ’72 tournament all of a sudden was very exciting for the tennis fanatics in Melbourne, and the crowds were record crowds, so it was quite good when Mal and I played off in the final.”

Since winning the US Open in 2023, Djokovic has reached just one Grand Slam final, losing to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon last year.

Though it is now over a year since his last Grand Slam final, the Serbian joins world No 1 Jannik Sinner in being one of the two men to reach all three major semi-finals in 2025.

Djokovic was forced to retire injured in his Australian Open semi-final versus Alexander Zverev back in January, before straight-set losses to Sinner at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

The Serbian was also struggling with injury during his loss to eventual champion Sinner at the All England Club last week, though he insisted it was not his final Wimbledon appearance.

“I would be sad, but hopefully it’s not my last match on the Centre Court. I’m not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today,” said Djokovic.

“So I’m planning to come back definitely at least one more time, play on the Centre Court for sure.”

Djokovic will next be in Grand Slam action at the US Open, which is underway in late August.