Rafael Nadal’s retirement announcement has left Novak Djokovic as the last remaining member of tennis’s golden era. However, Djokovic’s own future in the sport is uncertain, with major question marks surrounding his long-term prospects.
Djokovic remains stranded on 24 Grand Slam titles, level with Margaret Court in the all-time total. For the first time since 2017, he will finish a season without a Grand Slam trophy. Despite winning Olympic gold in Paris, Djokovic has been overshadowed by the emergence of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who have split the four Grand Slams between them in 2024.
This year marked the first time since 2002 that at least one of the Slams did not go to Djokovic, Nadal, or Roger Federer. Djokovic’s stunning third-round loss to Alexei Popyrin at the US Open was his earliest exit in New York since 2006.
Djokovic’s rollercoaster year has seen him lose his Australian Open title to Sinner, who also ended his reign as world number one. Alcaraz, 16 years his junior, succeeded him as French Open champion after Djokovic withdrew with a knee injury. Alcaraz then defeated Djokovic in the Wimbledon final, before Sinner claimed the US Open title.
Djokovic’s aura of invincibility has crumbled, with Popyrin describing his victory over the Serb as “way bigger” than his Montreal Masters triumph. Sinner’s dominant US Open final victory made him the first man since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same season.
Alcaraz, two years Sinner’s junior, already has four Grand Slam titles to his name. “It’s nice to see new champions and rivalries,” said Sinner. “I will always have players who make me better.”
Sinner and Alcaraz have six and four titles this year, respectively. Alcaraz is making Grand Slam history faster than Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. None of the three legends won four majors before their 22nd birthday. Alcaraz could claim a career Grand Slam while still 21 if he wins the Australian Open in January.
Despite the challenges, Djokovic remains motivated. He is on the cusp of becoming the third man to win 100 career titles if he captures the Shanghai Masters this weekend. “My love for tennis will never fade away,” said Djokovic.
