Reason why Novak Djokovic needs to change his game

11/28/2024 02:30 PM

Novak Djokovic needs to change a few things in his game if he wants to win another Grand Slam title before retirement. The former world number 1 is still competitive at the highest level, but his current level is not enough to defeat two young champions like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in the most important tournaments.

The Italian and the Spaniard have raised the bar in the last twelve months, especially Jannik, who has been truly unstoppable in 2024. Nole had defeated Sinner in the final of the ATP Finals last year, before losing the last three clashes with the Italian ace.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion did not win a single title in 2024 and has begun to show some signs of decline, which is completely physiological for a 37-year-old player. The Serbian legend had the chance to clinch another title at the Wimbledon Championships over the summer, but could do nothing in the final against an outstanding version of Carlitos Alcaraz.

Despite a season with more shadows than lights, the 37-year-old from Belgrade fulfilled his biggest dream of triumphing at the Paris Olympics by winning the gold medal for his country. Novak had been chasing this goal throughout his career and his chances of achieving this feat seemed to have vanished after the disappointment in Tokyo three years ago.

Some fans and insiders have argued that Djokovic was no longer really motivated after winning at the Paris Olympics and his choice to skip the last events of the 2024 season (the Rolex Paris Masters and the Nitto ATP Finals) seemed to confirm this idea.

However, a few days after the season ended, Nole shocked everyone with a very surprising announcement. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has announced that he has hired his former rival Andy Murray as his new coach for the 2025 Australian Open. Many wonder if their collaboration makes sense and if it will work, given that the former Scottish champion has no experience in this role.

Speaking with Eurosport, former ATP ace Alex Corretja commented on Novak’s shocking decision: “I was totally in shock. I have to agree for, let’s say, 10 seconds, 15 seconds and right away I thought, ‘what a smart move from Novak and from Andy, at the same time’.

Andy, he’s always seen things quite clearly, when you sit down with him. He knows exactly the way he wants to practice at the tournaments. He wants to play the way he wants to play during matches as well. So I think it’s an explosive combination, but it could work very well.”

Alex continued: “I think he needs to do different things for sure. Novak, because he’s been very consistent, very solid and almost like a perfect machine.

But right now the other guys are a bit younger, they move a bit faster. So I’m expecting a very aggressive version of Novak, otherwise he will struggle. He can just step back and just run. I mean, he will need to do that to defend because definitely, when you play the top guys, you need to know how to defend as well, because you cannot not always get in position.

But at the same time, if you’re not going on court, knowing that you need to go for it, serve well, you know, push with the return, and from time to time and change down the line, coming to the net, he will struggle.”

The Serbian ace will have to become more aggressive than his standards, shorten the duration of rallies and surprise his opponents by approaching the net. This seems the ideal way to allow Novak to be able to aspire to win the 25th Major title of his glorious career.

Meanwhile, the world No. 7 is enjoying some rest before starting his preparation for next season.

In these hours, the 24-time Grand Slam champion announced the start of a new partnership with Qatar Airways and was spotted in Doha.

On Sunday, December 1st, the 37-year-old from Belgrade will play an exhibition match with Juan Martin del Potro in Buenos Aires and it will be a wonderful opportunity to say goodbye to the former Argentine champion. Delpo has had a lot of injuries during his career, which formally ended in Baires in 2022. Nole has always had a beautiful relationship with Juan Martin, with whom he has created a very intense and spectacular rivalry.

These two champions faced each other in the final of the 2018 US Open, won by the Serbian champion. It was Djokovic himself who proposed to Delpo to play one last match against each other.