Novak Djokovic may be stepping into 2025 with a scaled-back schedule and uncertainty about his competitive drive, but Patrick Mouratoglou believes the tennis legend still has a Grand Slam win left in him. At 38, Djokovic faces challenges from a new generation of stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who took home all the 2024 Grand Slam titles and have quickly become the forces to beat on tour.
Despite a year that didn’t include a major title, Djokovic achieved a longtime goal by winning Olympic gold in Paris, edging out Alcaraz in the final. But his focus now appears split as he transitions to what he calls “part-time” tennis—a reduced schedule that leaves fans wondering if he can hold off rising stars like Sinner and Alcaraz on the sport’s biggest stages.
Mouratoglou, however, warns against counting Djokovic out too soon. “He won three Grand Slams just last year and reached the final in the fourth,” the legendary coach told Tennis365. “That was just one year ago, not ten years ago. He’s not far away from his best; when he plays them [Sinner and Alcaraz], I think anyone can win.”
With Djokovic’s longtime rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal now retired, Mouratoglou notes that the biggest hurdle Djokovic faces is his own motivation. “For Novak, it’s only about his motivation now,” he explained, highlighting the challenge Djokovic faces after spending years chasing the record books and beating Nadal and Federer. “All his career was about beating the other two, being better than them, and he won that fight. Where does he find the motivation now?”
Yet Mouratoglou is certain that if Djokovic can keep his drive alive, another Grand Slam isn’t out of reach. With a reduced schedule designed to maximize his health and performance, Djokovic could still pull off a historic 25th title, surpassing Margaret Court’s record and further cementing his status as the game’s most successful champion. For fans and rivals alike, Djokovic’s 2025 campaign will be one of the most closely watched storylines in tennis—because, as Mouratoglou says, betting against an all-time great is a “dangerous game.”
