Novak Djokovic backed to win three or four more Grand Slams by esteemed coach
Respected coach and former ATP player Heinz Gunthardt believes Novak Djokovic can win three of four more Grand Slam titles before he retires.
The Swiss, a former coach of tennis legend Steffi Graf, suggested Djokovic could have three of four more years at the top and feels this is “still a very long time.”
Djokovic, who turned 36 in May, still looks at the peak of his powers and continues to have remarkable success at an age by which many players have retired or faded.
The Serbian won a men’s record-extending 24th Grand Slam title with his victory over Daniil Medvedev in the final of the 2023 US Open in September.
The world No 1 triumphed at three of the four Major tournaments this year, while he also lost in five thrilling sets to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. He has now won 12 Major titles in his 30s and has a remarkable 12-3 record in Grand Slam championship matches since turning 30.
This is the fourth season of Djokovic’s career in which he has won three Grand Slam titles – a record in men’s tennis. He also achieved the feat during outstanding campaigns in 2011, 2015 and 2021.
In an interview with Tennis Magazin, Gunthardt argued that Djokovic is far from done and predicted he will take his Major tally into the high 20s.
“Three or four years is still a very long time. I still think he can win three or four Grand Slams,” assessed the former world No 22.
The 64-year-old, who has captained Switzerland’s Billie Jean King Cup team since 2012, also discussed the emergence of world No 2 and two-time Major winner Alcaraz.
“A few years ago everyone said: ‘It’s impossible to be at the top of the men’s ranks as a teenager. Tennis has become too athletic!’ And now? It wasn’t impossible, we just didn’t have the right teenager,” said Gunthardt.
“Now there are Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Luca van Assche! That’s the great thing about tennis: it can’t be captured. Everyone thinks they know how things work – but no one does! Exceptional players don’t exist all the time, otherwise they wouldn’t be exceptional.
“So sometimes you have a hole. But that doesn’t mean that something is impossible. Even after my long time in tennis, I can say that I don’t understand this sport (laughs).
“But he (Alcaraz) can’t do everything either. His net game can be improved. He’s so strong from the back that he doesn’t need classic attacking balls. But Rafael Nadal also won his first French Open from the baseline with a lot of racing. There are many opportunities.
“You don’t have to be able to do everything to be a good tennis player. In English it is called: ‘The Art of Reduction.’ If you can play simply, it’s easier to repeat. You have to know what you can do – and what you can’t do. If you can use what you can as often as possible, you’re playing well.”
Gunthardt coached 22-time Grand Slam champion Graf from 1992 until her retirement in 1999, an also worked with former world No1 Ana Ivanovic. He won five ATP singles titles and two Major doubles titles during a playing career that spanned from 1976 to 1990.
