Djokovic Plans To Play More Events In 2025 Despite Previously Indicating Opposite
News
Novak Djokovic has revealed that he will likely enter more ATP tournaments during the 2025 season but has also acknowledged that the length of time he will stay motivated is unpredictable.
Djokovic started the new season in the doubles with Nick Kyrgios at the Brisbane International. They narrowly triumphed in front of a packed crowd at the Pat Rafter Arena, which supported them throughout the match.
The Serbian often plays a tournament before the Australian Open. Last year, he competed for Serbia at the United Cup during the season's opening week but chose to appear in Brisbane instead this year.
Although Djokovic usually plays in the season's opening week, the 37-year-old has played in much fewer tournaments during the last few years than in the earlier stages of his career, including skipping some significant events.
Djokovic did not play at last season's ATP Finals. An injury issue was the official explanation for that move, but there had been rumors several weeks beforehand that he would skip the season-ending tournament and take more time off.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion also skipped several ATP Masters 1000 tournaments during the last few years. Djokovic admitted that those decisions were made because his focus is on the Grand Slams and representing Serbia.
However, Djokovic did not win a Grand Slam last season. That was the first time he had failed to secure one of the four major titles since 2017, and it might have indicated that playing in fewer tournaments left him lacking match sharpness.
Djokovic plans to alter that approach this season by competing at more events to try to increase his level and ranking from where they were in 2024, as he revealed in Brisbane.
"I'm looking for a good start to the season, I'm looking for more consistency across all the tournaments. I'm looking to play more tournaments than I did last season, so hopefully also my level is going to go up. Hopefully I will win a few more tournaments and my ranking will go up where it should be."
Despite not winning any of the four Grand Slams last season, the former ATP world No. 1 proved how good his level can still be at the Paris Olympics when he secured the gold medal that had eluded him for so many years.
Djokovic is confident about competing at the top of men's tennis for years to come despite being 37, but he also acknowledged that it depends on whether he can stay motivated after so many years on the ATP Tour.
"The way I'm feeling today, I still think that I can go strong for years to come, but how long I'm going to feel motivated to keep going is unpredictable. I still love this sport and I still love competing."
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz split the four Grand Slams between them last season, and beating them to major titles will be challenging. However, Djokovic has defied the odds and proven his doubters wrong several times.
