Novak Djokovic Sends Cryptic Message About Wanting To Win 25th Grand Slam
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Novak Djokovic needs just one more Grand Slam to be the outright leader for major titles, and his intent may have been shown with an item he brought to the Brisbane International.
Djokovic equaled Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slams after winning the US Open. He has won more majors than any other ATP player in tennis history. The recently retired Rafael Nadal is second with 22.
At the end of 2023, it seemed inevitable that the Serbian would secure the final Grand Slam he needs to break Court's record. Djokovic dominated the sport, winning three major titles and the ATP Finals during that season.
However, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz stepped up and were the dominant players in 2024. Sinner won the Australian Open and US Open and finished as the year-end No. 1, while Alcaraz claimed the French Open and Wimbledon crowns.
Sinner and Alcaraz's respective ages of 23 and 21 mean they will almost certainly get even better in the coming years. That makes Djokovic's challenge of competing with them at the age of 37 more difficult.
In characteristic style, Djokovic does not accept that the challenge of winning another Grand Slam is too tricky. He responded to the doubts surrounding him by appointing Andy Murray as his new coach.
Murray has never coached professionally, but the three-time Grand Slam champion was a superb player with an epic rivalry against Djokovic. The pair contested seven Grand Slam finals from 2011 to 2016 before a severe hip injury derailed Murray's career.
Djokovic believes the partnership with Murray will work well because of his experience of playing on the biggest stages. It continues a trend of the 24-time Grand Slam appointing high-profile coaches after previously working with Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic.
Becoming the outright Grand Slam record holder is the only thing left for Djokovic to achieve. He is the most statistically successful player in tennis history and has claimed every significant honor in the sport at least once.
Djokovic will begin his season at the Brisbane International in preparation for the Australian Open. He and Nick Kyrgios have signed up for the men's doubles at the tournament, generating excitement among many fans.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion has arrived in Brisbane, and his choice of backpack might signal his determination to win a 25th Grand Slam title at this year's Australian Open.
Djokovic was pictured in Brisbane with a Pikachu backpack. Pikachu is a common species in the very popular Japanese media franchise Pokemon and one of the most well-known characters worldwide.
However, Pikachu is also No. 25 in the Pokedex, an electronic device created and designed to catalog and provide information regarding the various species of Pokemon featured in the video game, anime, and manga series.
Although coincidences can happen, this seems too unlikely to be an accidental choice by Djokovic. The tennis legend also did something in his opening match of the 2023 season that indicates this was a deliberate act.
After winning the Adelaide International in January 2023, Djokovic celebrated by pointing to his head 22 times before securing a 22nd Grand Slam at the Australian Open a few weeks later. The Pikachu backpack seems like a similar move.
