Novak Djokovic has fallen in ranks since 2023, the year he won his last and 24th Grand Slam. Two years since then, two individuals, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, have outmatched the 38-year old and all other ATP stars in Grand Slam tournaments. In 2025, Djokovic reached the semifinals in all the Grand Slams but couldn’t advance further largely because of Sinner and Alcaraz.
This has prompted a discussion among tennis circles on whether the Serbian has what it takes to win seven matches and lift the Grand Slam. Former coach of Pete Sampras and Roger Federer, Paul Annacone, is the latest to chime in on the matter. During his interview with Tennis Channel, when asked if Djokovic can win the elusive 25th Grand Slam, Annacone said:
“My heart says yes, but my head says no. I think it’s getting harder and harder. Novak will have to face a lot of great players, and I think winning seven best-of-five matches to clinch a 25th major title might be too much of a challenge. But bet against him at your own risk: legends are the exception, not the rule.”
Annacone took a stance largely captured by the general audience. Like him, several believe that Djokovic may not have enough juice to take down Sinner/Alcaraz or any other star in the best-of-five set matches.
Novak Djokovic Gets Honest About Carlos Alcaraz And Jannik Sinner Challenge
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have emerged as the biggest obstacles between Novak Djokovic and 25th Grand Slam. After Alcaraz defeated him in the 2025 US Open semifinal, the Serbian accepted that the top two-ranked players are “too good” for him.
“I lost three out of four Slams in semis against these guys, so they’re just too good, playing on a really high level,” Djokovic said. “Unfortunately, I ran out of gas after the second set. I think I had enough energy to battle him and to keep up with his rhythm for two sets. After that I was gassed out, and he kept going. That’s kind of what I felt this year also with Jannik. Yeah, best-of-five makes it very, very difficult for me to play them, particularly if it’s the end stages of the Grand Slam.”
Despite Djokovic acknowledging that they are a level above them, he still believes he can compete with the young lot. Lately, he has prioritized Grand Slam tournaments and have skipped the Masters tournament. The reason he stated was spending time with family and recovery.
