Article by Luminița Paul – published on Sunday, April 20, 2025, 12:21 / Updated Sunday, April 20, 2025 12:28
Former world leader Novak Djokovic (37, 5 ATP) will play again in the Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid (April 23 – May 4), after a 3 -year break. The Serbian oscillating form has arisen another debate, however: will he be able to win a Grand Slam title in his career and when?
Novak Djokovic, winner of the tournament three times, is already training, along with his coach Andy Murray, on the slag fields at Caja Magica, preparing for the 2025 edition of Mutua Madrid Open.
After a rather negative beginning of the year, the Serb arrives with expectations to rediscover its game and may even fight to fourth crown in the capital of Spain, after those conquered in 2011, 2016 and 2019.
The previous tournament attended by Nole this season was the Masters 1000 category from Monte Carlo, where he could not go through the first obstacle-suffered a heavy defeat in front of the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo (27 years, 34th ATP) 3-6, 4-6, the one who knelt it last year, in Rome.
The former world leader, an occupant in the 5th place, returns to Madrid after three years, evolving most recently in 2022, when he had an electrifying semifinal in front of Carlos Alcaraz, lost by 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-7 (5).
Novak Djokovic's evolution in Madrid Masters
- 2006 »Quarters
- 2007 »Semifinals
- 2008 »Optima
- 2009 »Semifinals
- 2011 »Champion
- 2012 »Quarters
- 2013 »Tour 2
- 2016 »Champion
- 2017 »Semifinals
- 2018 »Tour 2
- 2019 »Champion
- 2022 »Semifinals
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray at Caja Magica Photo: Mutua Madrid Open
Novak Djokovic is also looking for the ATP title with the number 100, missing a chance in this season, when it was exceeded in the last act from Miami by the young Czech Jakub MensiK (19 years, 23rd place), 6-7 (4), 6-7 (4).
Will Novak Djokovic win a Grand Slam trophy?
The oscillating, uncharacteristic form of the player who holds the most records in tennis has a debate in the Podcast Major, supported by the former American players John Isner, Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson and Jack Sock.
Will Djokovic succeed in winning the 25th Grand Slam title of his career, to become the only holder of the most spectacular terminals? For now, he shares her with the Australian Margaret Court.
Isner and Johnson believe that the sand is draining vertiginously into Novak's hourglass. “I would say that Wimbledon would be his best chance, if he can pass the first week unharmed, with matches in minimum sets and maybe some luck in quarters and semifinals“Said Johnson (35 years old, withdrawn last year) in the latest edition of Podcast.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, after the Wimbledon 2024 Photo final: Imago Images
“You just have to reach the end of the two weeks with a little more energy in the tank. I feel it will run out of gas at a time but I think Wimbledon would be his best chance to get that title”, Appreciates the former number 21 ATP.
John Isner: “It seems that 2025 is his last chance”
But Isner added more cynicism when it came to if Djokovic wins any other tournament. He puts 2025 as a deadline, considering that in 2026 it will be much harder, and the Serb one older.
John Isner (39 years old, former 8 ATP number) with relatively recently withdrawn himself, in 2023, has the experience to feel the body no longer works as well from year to year. But while hope is there, the American believes that this year brings the latest chances of Grand Slam for nole.
“I hope to deceive myself, but it seems to have two more chances to win a Grand Slam trophy in the rest of the career – Wimbledon and US Open. Simply so it seems“Said Isner.
“Next year it is hard, it gets old. We know how well he takes care of his body, but it seems to talk about what career is overall. It seems that 2025 is his last chance to win a Slam, it will happen either at Wimbledon or at the US Open. I hope to deceive myself, it would be great to see him giving the time back and earning one in 2026 but so it seems from my point of view“John Isner concluded.
