Djokovic's Chances Of 2025 Grand Slam Success Assessed By Monfils
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Gael Monfils is a good friend of Novak Djokovic's, and he discussed whether the Serbian can compete against Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz for Grand Slams in 2025.
Although Djokovic has proven his doubters wrong on several occasions, there are questions about whether he has the motivation and physical ability to win any Grand Slams next year at the age of 37.
2024 was the first year Djokovic failed to secure a Grand Slam since 2017. Sinner won the Australian Open and US Open, while Alcaraz claimed the French Open and a second Wimbledon title, beating Djokovic in the final at SW19.
However, Djokovic did obtain the Olympic gold medal that had eluded him throughout his career. He produced a stunning performance to overcome Alcaraz in the deciding match, having been written off by many before the Olympics began.
Doubts about Djokovic's motivation in 2025 stem from the fact that he has now won every significant honor in the sport. He is the most statistically successful player in tennis history.
Djokovic's answer to whether he can compete at the four major tournaments was to hire Andy Murray as his coach, the man he played seven Grand Slam finals against from 2011 to 2016.
That move stunned many in the tennis world, but Djokovic is confident that Murray is the perfect choice. The Briton has only been confirmed until the end of the 2025 Australian Open, but the deal could be extended further.
Alcaraz also made a coaching change. The four-time Grand Slam champion hired Samuel Lopez as his second coach to work alongside Juan Carlos Ferrero. Lopez coached Pablo Carreno Busta for nine years until they split a few days ago.
Sinner will continue to work with Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi. The Italian's most significant concern for 2025 is whether the Court of Arbitration for Sport will ban him for doping after the World Anti-Doping agency appealed his case.
French veteran Monfils, one of the most entertaining and popular players on the ATP Tour, defeated Alcaraz at this year's Cincinnati Open. By contrast, he has never beaten Djokovic in 19 attempts.
Speaking to Tennis365 at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in London, Monfils predicted that Sinner and Alcaraz would be the Top 2 players in 2025 but rates Djokovic's chances of winning the Australian Open, where he has triumphed ten times.
“You look at Carlos, Jannik, Zverev and all the top ten will be contenders in Melbourne, but the top two will be Jannik and Carlos. Novak is still a contender for the Australian Open. Of course he can win one more Grand Slam in his career and why can’t it be in Australia, where he has won it so many times?"
"Now he has Andy with him and this great for the sport. We are all looking to see how he can match it all up."
Monfils also revealed he does not want to be a coach when he retires and gave a surprising answer for his most desired next job after tennis.
"It’s not in my plans to be a coach. When I stop I want to work in the financial world in a bank. That’s what I want to do."
