At a Glance
- Novak Djokovic has lost three of the last four Grand Slams to either Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz
- The 38-year-old is pursuing a record 25th major title at the Australian Open
- Djokovic withdrew from his only warmup event, citing reduced endurance and pain management priorities
- Why it matters: His pursuit of history now runs through two younger rivals who have claimed eight straight majors
Novak Djokovic opens his 2025 Australian Open campaign Monday night knowing his path to a record 25th Grand Slam singles title likely goes through the two players who have turned the past two seasons into their private duel.
Djokovic, who holds 24 major championships, acknowledged Saturday that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have become “the dominant forces of men’s tennis.” The Serbian star lost three of the four Grand Slam finals last year to either Sinner or Alcaraz, a trend he hopes to halt at Melbourne Park.
“We don’t need to praise them too much,” Djokovic said with a smile. “They have been praised enough! We know how good they are, and they absolutely deserve to be where they are.”
Fitness Gamble
Djokovic skipped the Adelaide tune-up after deciding his body needed more recovery time. He admitted he is lacking “a little bit of juice in my legs” to match the younger stars over best-of-five sets and must stay “as pain-free as possible” to compete.
The 10-time Australian Open champion has not played an official match since November. He described daily “aches and pains” but added, “generally I feel good and look forward to competing.”
Last year injuries still allowed him to reach the semifinals at all four majors. A torn hamstring ended his Melbourne run in 2024 after he had defeated Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
Chasing 25
Tied with Margaret Court for the most majors in tennis history, Djokovic is approaching the chase differently in 2025. He removed the “now-or-never type of mentality” after realizing the pressure hindered his performance.
“24 is also not a bad number,” he said. “Sinner and Alcaraz are playing on a different level right now from everybody else. That’s a fact, but that doesn’t mean that nobody else has a chance. So I like my chances always, in any tournament, particularly here.”
Sinner has captured the last two Australian Open titles. Alcaraz arrives in Melbourne attempting to complete a career Grand Slam with a first title at the tournament.
Draw Details
Djokovic, seeded fourth, faces No. 71 Pedro Martinez of Spain in the opening night session on Rod Laver Arena. He shares the same half of the draw with top-ranked Alcaraz, meaning the two could meet only in the semifinals.
PTPA Exit
Earlier in January Djokovic severed ties with the Professional Tennis Players Association, the organization he co-founded with Vasek Pospisil in 2020. He said his “values and approach are no longer aligned with the current direction of the organization” and felt his name had become “overused” in connection with the group.
“I am still wishing them all the best, because I think that there is room and there is a need for a 100 percent players-only representation organization,” he added.
Key Takeaways
- Djokovic’s 24 majors tie the all-time record, but Sinner and Alcaraz have won the last eight Grand Slam titles
- The Serbian last lifted a major trophy at the 2023 U.S. Open
- By skipping Adelaide, Djokovic prioritized recovery over match practice ahead of Melbourne
- A potential semifinal showdown with Alcaraz looms if both players advance through the draw
