Novak Djokovic’s 2025 is about to begin. The 24-time Grand Slam champion will not start his Australian Open season directly like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, but will also play the Brisbane International in early January.
The Serbian legend is aware that he has to change something from recent years in order to be competitive at Melbourne Park, where he will try to win for the 11th time in his legendary career. The former world No. 1 has not played an official tournament since last October, when he was defeated by Sinner in the final of the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2023© Stream screenshot
The 37-year-old from Belgrade has decided to skip the last official events of 2024, in particular the Rolex Paris Masters and the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, prompting several criticisms among fans and insiders because he would have had to defend the title in those two tournaments.
Nole played an exhibition match with Juan Martin del Potro in Buenos Aires in early December, before starting preparation for next season. As everyone knows, the current world number 7 will be able to benefit from Andy Murray’s advice at the Australian Open. The 3-time Grand Slam champion has accepted Novak’s proposal to become his new coach and everyone is eager to see what results this fascinating collaboration will bring.
Nole is in Thailand
In the meantime – before arriving in Brisbane for the first tournament of his season – Djokovic stopped in Thailand for a few days to carry out some practice sessions. Thailand is a regular destination for all those who want to break the long journey to Australia. The former world number 1 played with Kasidit Samrej – current number 415 in the ATP ranking – who obtained a wild card for the Australian Open and is preparing to play the first Major tournament of his career.
Great way for Asia-Pacific Wildcard winner 🇹🇭 Kasidit Samrej to prepare for his first Australian Open! pic.twitter.com/2r0IRlBeKj
— Tennis Asia (@TennisAsia) December 27, 2024
Novak’s choice to hire former World No.1 Murray as a coach has sparked a great debate on social media and among insiders. While some argue that it is only a commercial operation, others are convinced that the former Scottish champion will really be able to help his former rival in the most prestigious tournaments on the calendar.
Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2024© Stream screenshot
“I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach,” the 24-time Grand Slam winner stated last month.
“Looking forward to start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil.
We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of pushing each other to our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. They called us game changers, risk takers, history makers.
I thought our story may be over. Turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard, coach Andy Murray” – he added.
Never underestimate a legend
Their collaboration will have undergone a very important test at the AO, one of the favorite tournaments of the Serbian champion. If there is a Grand Slam tournament in which Nole has the best chance of winning, it is certainly the one that will take place at Melbourne Park from 12 to 26 January. The current world number 7 has often played his best tennis ‘Down Under’, but he will have to compete against dangerous opponents who are much younger than him.
For the first time in his amazing career, Djokovic will not be the man to beat in Australia and this detail could take some pressure off him.
Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2024© Stream screenshot
On the latest edition of her well-known podcast, tennis legend Rennae Stubbs talked about Novak’s chances at the 2025 AO: “We know that’s the tournament that he plays his best tennis at. He has won it 10 times, which is outrageous. The only person you can talk about in the same category as Rafa Nadal – winning 14 French Open.
But the fact he has won 10 Australian Open, I would say it might even be as impressive, because everyone plays pretty well on hard courts.
Whereas if you grow up on clay, no American can play on clay, they can’t even slide. Whereas everyone can play on hard court.”
Former WTA star Andrea Petkovic also expressed her point of view on this topic: “My prediction for Novak next year is that he will not give a flying f about any of the tournaments apart from the Australian Open and Wimbledon and he will make a huge push with everything he has left, he will give everything he has to win number 25 and then get out.”
Tennis World USA