“Djokovic can win his 25th Grand Slam, says Ana Ivanovic.”

Novak Djokovic continues to defy time and the logic of world tennis at 38 years old, remaining an unstoppable force in the quest for a historic record: to win his 25th Grand Slam title. Despite a season marked by injuries and few appearances in tournaments, the Serbian showed at this year’s Australian Open that he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level. Ana Ivanovic, former champion and compatriot of Djokovic, has no doubts: the “Djoker” is far from finished and can indeed lift another Grand Slam trophy.

This year, Novak Djokovic has participated in only two tournaments — the Australian Open and Indian Wells — due to physical issues that have begun to affect his performance. His last competitive match was in November at the Hellenic Championship, raising many questions about his ability to remain among the best on the circuit. Nevertheless, the epic battle in Melbourne against Jannik Sinner, the defending champion, proved that Djokovic remains a real threat when he is fit.

However, the final against Carlos Alcaraz revealed some limitations. Djokovic won the first set but was ultimately dominated by the young Spanish star, who claimed the title. This was the Serbian’s first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon 2024, breaking a streak of five major tournaments without reaching the final, something that hadn’t happened since 2016-2018. In 2025, Djokovic reached the semifinals of all four Grand Slams, but had to withdraw in Melbourne due to an injury after eliminating Alcaraz in style, only to lose to Zverev, Sinner, and Alcaraz in the remaining majors of the year.

Despite the physical challenges and age, the Serbian champion remains ambitious and confident in winning more titles. Ana Ivanovic, former world number one and Roland Garros winner, highlights Djokovic’s brilliant career and his positive influence on Serbian tennis: “What he has achieved is truly incredible. We have known each other since we were very young and have been friends for a long time. It is inspiring to see everything he does, not only in tennis but also for his country and the new generation.”

Ivanovic firmly believes that Djokovic still has the capability to win another Grand Slam: “Definitely, I think he has a chance to win another one. His game is still at a very high level and he can compete with the best. If we look at the last Grand Slams, he has been in the semifinals and finals, which means he is very close to the title. His career is incredible and it will be hard for anyone to match it.”

With Carlos Alcaraz’s absence from the upcoming Roland Garros, Djokovic finds himself in a privileged position to lift another major trophy. The Spaniard, who has dominated the scene, will not compete, leaving Jannik Sinner as the main favorite. Still, Djokovic, a three-time champion in Paris, knows the path to glory on clay well and will certainly be one of the favorites for victory. He is expected to reach fourth place in the world rankings before the tournament, which means a potential clash with Sinner could occur only in the semifinals or even in the final, reducing the number of obstacles.

His participation in the Rome tournament remains uncertain due to a shoulder injury, and his return to competitive play before Roland Garros is an unknown. He may choose to play in the Geneva Open, where last year he won his 100th ATP title, in an attempt to fine-tune his form before the big French challenge. Regardless of his path leading up to the tournament, the priority is to fully recover to be ready for the battle in Paris.

Novak Djokovic is thus at a crucial moment in his career. His ability to fight against age and injuries, combined with unmatched experience and talent, could lead him to make history and achieve the long-desired 25th Grand Slam. The tennis world is watching, and the upcoming season promises to be decisive for the Serbian icon.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.