Is Novak Djokovic’s Reign as Boss of the Circuit Over in 2024?

Is Novak Djokovic still the boss of the circuit? Still world number one, he owes this status more to his breathtaking career in 2023 (titles at Roland-Garros, the US Open, Cincinnati, Bercy or the Masters, final at Wimbledon) than to his performances since the start of the year 2024. This is abnormally (by his standards) anemic in terms of results for the Serbian who, for the first time since 2018, at the heart of his dark period, will appear at Roland-Garros without the slightest trophy under the arm since the season kicked off.

But should we really sound the alarm for Djokovic, who is celebrating his 37th birthday this Wednesday? Not necessarily. The first part of the season is special for him, in the sense that it really comes down to just one tournament: the Australian Open. The rest… Usually, he triumphs in Melbourne. This time, he stalled in the semi-finals against the future winner, Jannik Sinner. After which Djoko waits. The wait is over and here he is at the dawn of serious things.

The game of three hypotheses

In a little over three and a half months, from the end of May to mid-September, he will, like everyone else, take part in major events: Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, Olympic Games, US Open. A rush of incredible density, as four months pass between the end of the Australian Open and the start of the French Open. It is the four months that come, not the four that have just passed, that will allow him, and us, to know where the record holder for Grand Slam victories really stands.

We can envisage three scenarios which, each, will outline in the short term the more or less clear horizon of the champion of Belgrade. First hypothesis, it’s a blank. If the title escapes him in all of these four deadlines, it will necessarily be time to ask questions. A white season, at 37, would mark a huge step backwards. Not necessarily definitive (everything would then depend on the extent of the damage: how many finals? How many halves? What appearance in these defeats?, etc.) but necessarily significant.

Novak Djokovic, Rome 2024

Credit: Getty Images

If, conversely, we find the Djoko of 2023, all doubts will be lifted. It will be a form of return to normal. Djokovic will always be the boss, inexorably. If he wins two of the next three Majors (like last year over the same period), the thurifers will be able to sing again all summer.

And the third scenario? A sort of in-between. A Grand Slam title, for example. Perhaps he will lose his number one position in this scenario. Either way, it doesn’t matter to him at this stage of his career. With 25 capital titles, he would surpass Margaret Court, with whom he currently holds the absolute record. However, co-detaining is not Djoko’s thing. This would be enough, if not for his happiness, in any case to allow him to take one more step in the great history of his sport, the one that he does not hide from wanting to chase, again and again.

A Sinner client to beat him in the Grand Slam?

Then there is the Olympic bonus. Of course, a season without the slightest Grand Slam trophy for “Djoker” would constitute a major upheaval for men’s tennis. But Olympic gold would be more than just a consolation prize. Today it is the only gaping hole in his gigantic track record. We won’t go so far as to claim that, if given the choice, he would choose the Games over Roland Garros, Wimbledon or the US Open, but we are not far from thinking so.

At this stage, Novak Djokovic, in 2024, there are a lot of questions and very few answers. These are about to arrive. We can’t wait and he too, no doubt. It is understandable, in view of the last Australian Open and the last few months, to ask certain questions about it. But be careful, all the same. It’s not as if Djokovic is completely on the street, especially since there are many of them these days who are sailing around with questions around their necks, for various and varied reasons.

Sinner’s demonstration against Djokovic on video

His week in Geneva (to be followed on Eurosport) will perhaps give some additional signs but the most likely is that there are not fifty of them who can beat him in the context of a Grand Slam tournament, in three sets. winners. It will be a tough job if it happens. In Melbourne, it took a huge Sinner to unbolt it. In Paris, perhaps a client of the same ilk, or close to it, will be needed to send the title holder onto the motorway towards Roissy.

The thing is far from unthinkable. But betting your salary or mortgaging your grandmother’s house on this necessarily contains an element of risk. This is Paris. And even in the event of failure at Porte d’Auteuil, he will be an even more imposing candidate for London or New York. So, finished, Djokovic? We want to see. To believe it. Until then, let’s consider that Djokovic remains Djokovic. It’s more reasonable. If anyone deserved the benefit of the doubt, it’s him.

2024-05-21 21:43:00
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