Doubles legend Pam Shriver thinks Novak Djokovic is not as feared by his opponents after failing to win a Grand Slam during a season for the first time since 2017.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was still dominating the sport last year. He claimed three Grand Slam titles, the ATP Finals, and finished the year as the world No. 1. Carlos Alcaraz narrowly stopped him from also winning Wimbledon.
His success has not been as widespread since this year. Djokovic's failure to win a Grand Slam for the first time since 2017 also means he may not qualify for the ATP Finals for the first time in seven years.
There have been differing views about Djokovic's mentality ahead of this year's US Open. Some believe the 37-year-old did not honestly think he could win at Flushing Meadows after his efforts at the Olympics to win a gold medal.
However, Jimmy Connors does not believe this. The eight-time Grand Slam singles champion says Djokovic's US Open exit was not due to lower expectations and that he always expects the best of himself.
Regardless of the expectations Djokovic had for the US Open, his lack of Grand Slam success could mean many of his rivals at the biggest tournaments are not as intimidated by him as they once were.
Shriver holds that opinion. Speaking on the Rennae Stubbs Podcast, she said Djokovic does not have the same aura he once did, with injuries and a loss of form being the principal reasons.
"Novak seems to have lost a little bit of that giant aura that he had that would make him start with a two love lead in each set. Obviously the French Open, the injury to the knee, the surgery on the meniscus … when you think about how he was [before] – just one tournament win in the year and that was Olympics, no ATP Tour wins as he got to the final of Wimbledon, semi-final of the Australian Open."
The 22-time Grand Slam women's doubles champion also believes Djokovic's inability to reset and consider his next big goal after the Olympics contributed to his disappointing US Open campaign.
"Obviously he put all in to do one of thing in the sport he had not done, which is win an Olympic gold medal, and I don’t think there was enough time for even him to reset."
"He didn’t play Canada or Cincinnati, didn’t play a warm-up tournament. I don’t think he has been able to reset and establish his next big goal. Is it to get to 25 singles in majors, he’s got to have something to push him."
It will be interesting to observe how much Djokovic plays during the rest of the year. He is not scheduled to play in Tokyo or Beijing after the US Open, but that decision could cost him a place at the ATP Finals.
Djokovic could choose to play a lighter schedule and take time off to consider his next big goal, as Shriver feels he needs to.