As Novak Djokovic approaches the later stages of his unparalleled tennis career, the Serbian superstar finds himself at a crossroads. Recently, he withdrew from the 2024 ATP Paris Masters, citing lingering fitness concerns and, more to the point, the desire to prolong his career whilst remaining competitive at the Grand Slams.

With seven titles and a remarkable 50-9 record at the Paris Masters, his absence will be felt. It may also bring his season to an early close. Despite being in position to qualify for the ATP Finals, his place at the season-ending championships is not secure but Djokovic has said he doesn’t consider the tournament his priority anymore. As Rafael Nadal retired earlier this year, Djokovic now stands as the last remaining member of the “Big 3,” though he has noted his cautious approach to competition following recent knee surgery.

Patrick Mouratoglou remains confident about Novak Djokovic in 2025

Renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou recently shared his perspective on Djokovic’s turbulent season and what 2025 might bring. Reflecting on the Serb’s previous successes, the former Serena Williams coach stated in an interview with Tennis365, “I think he had a very bad year, but it came after an incredible year. Let’s not forget that only last year he won three Grand Slams and played in the final of the other.”

“He won the Olympics, which was his main focus this year, beating Carlos [Alcaraz] in the final, playing fantastic tennis, so he is not far away. I think he can beat them [Sinner and Alcaraz]. There was a lot of margin before, but now there is none. When he plays them, I think anyone can win, but I don’t think he’s far behind. I think he can still win Grand Slams; I’m sure about it.”

“For Novak, it’s only about his motivation. All his career was about beating the other two [Nadal and Federer] and being better than them; that was the fight of his life in tennis, and he won. I hope this difficult year is something he will be able to use to feed his motivation and come back next year as good as the previous one. Then we’ll have a fight between those three that is going to be unbelievable, and I want to see it.”

Analyzing Novak Djokovic’s 2024 Season and 2025 Prospects

Djokovic’s 2024 season has marked a distinct shift in his career trajectory. The 37-year-old recently described it as one of his toughest years, missing out on a Grand Slam title for the first time in seven years. This contrasts sharply with 2023, when he captured three majors and achieved his 24th Grand Slam title. Though he reached all four Grand Slam finals in 2023, he faced setbacks in 2024, including an Australian Open semi-final loss and a narrow miss at Roland Garros.

Djokovic’s motivation may be waning, partly due to having achieved virtually every accolade in the sport. Speculation suggests that the former-world #1 may forgo the ATP Finals. Arriving at the 2025 Australian Open with a lower ATP ranking could be challenging, potentially forcing him into early matches against Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner.

Currently ranked fourth, Djokovic risks dropping out of the top 10 by year’s end. Although a strong performance in Shanghai could help mitigate the fall, he is likely to enter 2025 with a ranking lower than he’s accustomed to. The Serb will be losing points at the Paris Masters and the ATP World Tour Finals (if he doesn’t play) as he is the defending champion in both of those tournaments.

In an effort to be better prepared, Djokovic may consider playing in events like the United Cup, representing Serbia to gain competitive rhythm and possibly boost his ranking points ahead of the Australian Open.

Main photo credit: