Novak Djokovic last won a ‘big’ title at the 2024 Paris Olympics, 828 days ago.
Since then, the Serb has lost two Masters 1000 finals and a Grand Slam final. Djokovic is a 40-time Masters 1000 champion and a 24-time major champion, but with every day that passes, he looks less and less likely to add to his tally.
Former American ATP star Steve Johnson, who lost to Djokovic back at the 2018 Cincinnati Open, believes his time at the top is over. During the latest episode of the ‘Nothing Major‘ podcast, Johnson made a bold statement about Djokovic’s future.
Steve Johnson doesn’t think Novak Djokovic is ‘in contention’ for big titles anymore
“I am going to be honest guys, I was very bullish on Novak [Djokovic] the last six weeks when he was saying, ‘I want to make Turin’. I was thinking he is going to make it; it’s Novak. Why would I think otherwise? He wins Beijing, and then you think Novak is right here,” said Johnson.
“Not a great loss in Shanghai after that; loses to [Jan-Lennard] Struff, loses to Rinky Hijikata. I think it’s official for me that Novak is not in contention for any big tournaments anymore. I’m done. You never count him out, but I am starting to feel like 25 is not happening.”
Djokovic made a surprising schedule change after the US Open, choosing to play the China Open and the Swiss Indoors. The Serb wanted to earn enough points to qualify for the ATP Finals, but he missed out after a poor run of form that saw him go 2-3 after winning in Beijing.
Novak Djokovic’s record post-US Open (7-3)
|
Tournament |
Performance |
Match wins |
Defeat |
|
China Open |
Champion |
5 (Nuno Borges, Yunchaokete Bu, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur) |
– |
|
Shanghai Masters |
Second round |
0 |
Hubert Hurkacz |
|
Swiss Indoors |
Second round |
1 (Ugo Humbert) |
Jan-Lennard Struff |
|
Paris Masters |
Second round |
1 (Valentin Vacherot) |
Rinky Hijikata |
Novak Djokovic’s record post-US Open
The 39-year-old has ‘only’ won three titles across the past two seasons. Djokovic won two ATP 250 events last year, the Geneva Open and the Hellenic Championships, before winning the ATP 500 China Open this October.
Djokovic impressed at times, threatening to win ‘big titles’, like when he reached the Australian Open final in January, or when he met Czech youngster Jakub Mensik in the 2025 Miami Open final, but those opportunities aren’t coming along nearly as often as they once did.
Johnson doesn’t think Djokovic can contend for those titles anymore; however, his podcast co-host and former top-10 player, John Isner, disagrees. The 2018 Wimbledon semi-finalist still thinks Djokovic has what it takes, pointing towards next year’s Australian Open.
“I don’t think that’s fair. I think it’s hard at this age to put together successive good results. That is what we saw in Asia. Your body just can’t back that up at 39 years old, even Novak,” he said.
“But during the course of one tournament, where you are solely focused on one tournament, and you have a lot of adrenaline… It’s not an outlandish statement by you by any means, but I am pumping the brakes on it, because he has his favourite Slam in two months’ time in Australia.”
Record 10-time champion Djokovic led Carlos Alcaraz by a set to love in this year’s Australian Open final, before falling to a 6-2, 2-6, 3-6, 5-7, defeat on his favourite Rod Laver Arena.
Only time will tell if he can go all the way in 2027 to win his 25th Grand Slam title. The 2027 Australian Open begins on January 17, although Djokovic is expected to return before then…
Novak Djokovic has a chance to win multi-million dollar prize in Saudi Arabia
Djokovic failed to qualify for the ATP Finals, but he will have an opportunity to test himself against elite opposition at the rescheduled Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Djokovic will join Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner, Taylor Fritz, and Alex de Minaur in December.
The Serb is 1-3 at the Six Kings Slam, having played in both editions of the event. Djokovic lost to Sinner in the 2024 semi-finals before beating his legendary rival Rafael Nadal in the third-place match. Then, in 2025, he lost to Sinner again in the semis before retiring due to injury against Taylor Fritz.
He’ll be keen to improve upon his 1-3 record in 2026, when the tournament starts on December 27.
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Esta notícia foi originalmente publicada em: Fonte original