Is This the End of Djokovic Dominance?

Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon

Every player has a peak and a decline. For Roger Federer, it was visible that after 2017, he had to fight off a dominant Novak Djokovic at every possible final, and the Serbian was the better player.

Fans with Wimbledon tickets remember the epic 2019 final between Novak and Federer. Considered one of the best finals, it also reminded Federer that his time on the court was ending.

Now, experts believe that the 2023 final between Djokovic and Alcaraz was Djokovic’s reminder.

Last year’s Wimbledon tournament was not kind to Novak Djokovic. With seven Wimbledon titles, Djokovic’s prowess on grass courts is remarkable but he could not replicate his victory against Carlos Alcaraz.

Ted Robinson, an American sportscaster, discussed how it ended his dominance on the court. Referring to Roger Federer’s matches in 2021, he compared the two legends’ similar career trajectories.

“Wimbledon last summer changed the final arc of Novak’s career. This young kid walks onto the grass court and snaps Novak in the fifth set that is supposed to happen. And I think that changed,” claimed Ted Robinson during the Tennis Channel Inside-In podcast.

Recalling last year’s Wimbledon final, Novak Djokovic faced a disappointing defeat against the then World No. 5, Alcaraz, after competing for five sets.

It also marked his first loss at the Centre Court in over ten years! And it even shocked Djokovic, as he later admitted, “I thought I’ll have trouble with you on only clay and hard court.”

However, he revived himself by winning the U.S. Open and ATP finals later that year. But in 2024, Novak Djokovic has been titleless so far. After he parted ways with his long-time coach, Goran Ivanisevic, speculations have arisen about whether this would be his last tour before retirement.

When Roger Federer struggled with his knee injuries in 2021, we all knew the end of his career might be near. It was further emphasized when, among the five tournaments he played in 2021, he only reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. But sadly, he faced a loss against the then World No. 18 Hubert Hurkacz.

Roger Federer retired in 2022, and Rafael Nadal is following the same trend this year. But will Novak Djokovic follow in their footsteps?
Well, for now, we need not worry. Novak Djokovic put all his retirement plans to bed during the Australian Open.

He’s been vocal that despite his ageing, he brings out the better version of himself every time he plays on the court.

For Novak, this season will give him a clear idea of where his career is heading.

It’s important to him that he wins at Wimbledon. All of Novak’s fans with Wimbledon tickets anxiously await this, reassuring them that he has a few more seasons left to deliver.

Novak has continuously mentioned that he also wants to win gold at the Olympics, which he has yet to achieve.

This year’s Paris Olympics can be the perfect timing.

Although he suffered from a wrist injury and a viral fever throughout the tournament, his determination to be his best did not waver.

The 24-Grand Slam Champion’s goal for the year is clear: add one more grand slam to his name. And till then, he has not given up.

Djokovic Has Edge for Wimbledon

This year, he might have an edge against the rest at the next few tournaments with injuries.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have been the star performers on the ATP Tour so far this year, but both are struggling with injuries, and the French Open is less than two weeks away.
Sinner, the Australian Open winner, is currently nursing an injury and has added that he will only compete at Roland Garros if he is 100% fit. This applies to Wimbledon as well—two tournaments held nearby.

That has inspired Haarhuis to suggest that Djokovic is primed to add to his record-breaking haul of 24 Grand Slams, as he spoke exclusively to Tennis365 ahead of his exclusive coaching clinics at the Verdura Resort in Sicily this year.

“I think Djokovic is probably the favourite for the Grand Slams still for a couple of reasons,” Dutch great Haarhuis told the press.

Wimbledon’s Expansion Plans

Officials announced on Thursday that the expansion plans for the yearly Wimbledon tennis championships will incorporate additional public parkland and better facilities for those with Wimbledon tickets.

In November, Wandsworth councilors unanimously rejected the proposal for 39 new courts in Wimbledon Park, adjacent to the All England Club in southwest London. Despite Merton Council’s approval of the proposal, the seven councilors followed the guidance of their planning authorities.

The application has been forwarded to the Mayor of London’s office, and the All England Club, which owns and operates the Wimbledon site, remains optimistic about obtaining approval despite opposition from residents.

A key element of Wimbledon’s appeal to these residents has been the inclusion of public parkland. On Thursday, the All England Club announced that an additional four acres had been allocated to the northern part of the site, bringing the total to 27 acres.

All England Club chair Debbie Jevans said: “I am delighted that, following the many thousands of conversations we have had with local people about our plans and working with the Greater London Authority, we are now able to propose even more green space for Londoners to enjoy, on land that has been inaccessible to the public for more than 100 years.

The grass-court Grand Slam proposal entails the construction of an 8,000- Wimbledon tickets capacity show court on land formerly used by the Wimbledon golf course. Wimbledon authorities want the project to facilitate on-site hosting of the qualifying competition.

This aligns with the practices of the other three Grand Slam tournaments, as Wimbledon’s qualifying event currently takes place over three miles away in Roehampton. However, delays in obtaining administrative approval indicate that the initial goal of completing the project by 2030 will likely be postponed.

The All England Club’s statement added: “We look forward to confirmation of a date for a public hearing on our applications in the coming months.”

About Suneer Chowdhary 2122 Articles
Suneer is a Mumbai-based freelance sports journalist with a special affinity towards cricket and tennis. He has also covered six ICC tournaments including Cricket World Cups and Champions Trophy.