Tim Henman predicts where Novak Djokovic is most likely to win his 25th Grand Slam

Tim Henman believes Novak Djokovic still has the appetite to win a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title and has named the tournament that will give him his best hope of achieving one of his last big goals in the sport.
Djokovic is currently tied with Margaret Court for the all-time record of major wins in tennis, with the legendary Australian winning the last of her 24 Grand Slams in 1973.
The Serbian has made it clear that he is eager to hold that record on his own, as he looks to banish any doubt over who the greatest player of all time will be when the tennis history books are re-written.
Now former British No 1 Henman has suggested Djokovic could reach that milestone this year and he believes the grass courts at Wimbledon will be his best chance of glory.
Djokovic is a seven-time winner at the All England Club and he needs one more title at Wimbledon to equal Roger Federer’s all-time record, with former world No 4 Henman convinced he is one of the few players in the men’s game that can challenge for the biggest title on grass courts.
“I think Wimbledon is his best chance,” said Sky Sports Tennis analyst Henman. “He made the final last year on the back of knee surgery and with his confidence and understanding of grass court tennis, it gives him a chance.
“Realistically, how many players could have won the Australian Open? There may have been four or maybe five players. On grass, there is even less. Fewer players are comfortable on grass.
“[Jannik] Sinner is probably least comfortable on grass and then you look at Djokovic and [Carlos] Alcaraz. Beyond that, it’s difficult to predict.”
Sinner may well be missing from Wimbledon if the appeal against his doping suspension launched by the World Anti-Coping Agency goes against him in April, with defending champion Alcaraz likely to be Djokovic’s biggest rival for the title in the London tournament if the world No 1 is absent.
Henman suggests the key for Djokovic between now and then will be selecting the right level of preparation for his biggest events, as he needs to his competitive fitness levels up to the standards required to get through a gruelling two weeks at the French Open and Wimbledon.
“I’m very interested to see Djokovic’s schedule because there needs to be a balance,” he stated. “Even he will need to get a certain number of matches under his belt, but he wants to stay fresh as he gets older.
“It becomes tough and tougher on the body, but I do believe Wimbledon is his best chance of winning a Slam this year.”
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Henman went on to suggest the debate over who the greatest player of all time in the men’s game will be is already decided, as he stated Djokovic is assured of being held on a pedestal higher than his great rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
“He has got 24 Slams, the most weeks at No 1, the most Masters 1000’s, he’s got it all,” said Henman. “So the debate over who is the greatest player of all time is over. You have to go with the numbers and on that score, Djokovic is the clear winner.”
Henman also gave his views on Djokovic’s unfortunate exit from the Australian Open, with the Melbourne crowd booing him off court as he was forced to retire in his semi-final against Alexander Zverev due to a hamstring injury.
“I think they got it completely wrong,” said Henman, responding to a question from Tennis365.
“For someone going for their 11th Australian Open title and their 25th Slam, to be the leader in the history of the game, he’s clearly in a bad way if he has pulled out after a set. For him to be booed in that moment was pretty indefensible.
“He absolutely doesn’t deserve to be booed off the court in the semi-finals of a Slam when he has had to retire.”
Henman went on to try and explain why the fans turned on Djokovic in such a vitriolic manner, as he questioned whether the enduring popularity of his great rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal continues to haunt him.
“I’m not on social media, but what I hear goes on with him and his fans is chaos and maybe at times he has done things that have attracted that (negativity),” he continued.
“You big a bit deeper and in my opinion, he has always craved the affection of Federer and Nadal. Whether that’s true or not, I don’t know. That’s my opinion.
“Some people don’t like the way he behaves sometimes, but you look at what he has achieved in the game and in every statistic, he is the best in the men’s game. So I find it difficult to debate that.
“He has got 24 Slams, the most weeks at No 1, the most Masters 1000’s, he’s got it all.”
Djokovic is not expected to return to competitive action until the European clay court season in April, with his hamstring issues expected to take between six weeks and two months to heal.
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