Novak Djokovic's Lack Of Playing Time Becoming 'Real Handicap' Says Steffi Graf's Ex-Coach
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Novak Djokovic might enter a vicious cycle with his recent struggles, according to former coach of Steffi Graf.
Djokovic has played much less in recent seasons compared to the years before. For example, he posted an impressive 82-6 record in 2015, playing 88 matches that season, and the Serbian played 87 matches in 2012 and 2013.
A decade later, he's obviously not able to play so much. The last time Djokovic played at least 65 matches in a season was back in 2019. He went over that mark in both 2018 and 2019, but since 2020, the 24-time Grand Slam champion started to play less.
He completed 52 matches in 2020, 56 in 2021, 49 in 2022, 63 in 2023, and finally, only 46 matches in 2024. In fact, Djokovic played the second-fewest matches in his career in 2024, only after the 2017 season, which he ended already in July and still played 40 matches.
On top of that, the 37-year-old signaled that he might play even less this year but then changed his approach, playing the ATP 250 event in Brisbane and also the ATP 500 tournament in Doha.
However, despite signing up for more tournaments, Djokovic didn't necessarily play more matches. Tennis is a sport in which winning more means playing more, and since the former ATP World No. 1 lost more than he used to, he didn't play that much. So far, he has completed only 11 matches this year.
His last loss came to Botic van de Zandschulp at the 2025 Indian Wells Open, and for the first since 2018, Djokovic lost three consecutive matches.
Playing less and less could become an issue according to former ATP World No. 22 player Heinz Günthardt, who has experience with coaching a legend of the game and someone who has lifted over 20 major trophies.
Günthardt worked with Steffi Graf from 1992 until 1999, and he now spoke to the Swiss publication Blick about Djokovic's struggles. According to the 66-year-old, the Serbian's lack of playing time will become a real handicap for him.
"Playing so little becomes a real handicap. Confidence and reflexes also come from the rhythm of matches. And in top-level tennis, a few centimeters of delay can change everything."
The Swiss coach was with Steffi Graf during the last years of her tennis career, and he got the first-hand experience of what it takes to work with a player like that.
Everything, starting from the practice, becomes different. Tennis is a sport of margins, and with increasing age, Djokovic will start losing those tiny margins across the board, which will make it difficult for him to succeed.
"With age, you have to train more efficiently. Daily concentration becomes essential. We trained less often, but every minute counted. You have to train as well as possible."
Djokovic is still chasing his 25th Grand Slam title and 100th career title. His next scheduled tournament is the 2025 Miami Open.
