Novak Djokovic has raised his level in Grand Slam tournaments again this season, but he has never really come close to lifting the trophy. The former world No.1 who confirmed his intention to continue playing next year was defeated in the semifinals in Melbourne, Paris, London and New York, being defeated by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in three of these four tournaments.
The Serbian legend is no longer the player he was until a few years ago and struggles to keep up with the pace of these two young champions, who have taken the lead of the men's tour and shared the last eight Grand Slam trophies. The collective feeling is that the 38-year-old from Belgrade does not have much chance of making tennis history again, but he does not intend to give up and his next huge goal will be the 2026 Australian Open next January.
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Connors talks about Djokovic
In the meantime, Nole has moved to Greece with his entire family and is ready to start a new chapter in his life. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has already announced his intention to participate in the Athens ATP 250 in November and this could be the only event he will play between now and the end of the season.
On the latest edition of his famous podcast, American legend Jimmy Connors who follows men's and women's tennis with enormous attention highlighted how Novak has a different game than most current players: After watching the matches live, the semis and the finals of the US Open live. I think the men play violent tennis, the way that they swing at the ball and go after it. But the women are the same.
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Even at my age, I was playing against Andy Roddick and Pat Rafter, guys who have won the US Open and are still young and able to hit with pace and move and the ball was coming to me, and I was going oh wait, I have time. But the violence of which they swing is something that I really could not get into my head. Thats why I wanted to watch Djokovic play, because hes not that player; this is another generation after him, even now. His strokes were more about taking the ball early and taking time away. Its crazy.
