Novak Djokovic will kick off the 2025 season in Brisbane. The 24-time Main winner will compete on the ATP 250 occasion for the primary time since 2009, looking for an excellent run every week earlier than the Australian Open. Djokovic determined to play within the first week of the brand new 12 months and picked Brisbane as his first cease.
The Serb will search his a hundredth ATP title in opposition to Nick Kyrgios, Frances Tiafoe, Matteo Berrettini, Alexei Popyrin. Final 12 months’s finalists, Grigor Dimitrov and Holger Rune, are additionally within the draw. Novak claimed the elusive Olympic Video games gold medal in Paris in August.
Thus, he accomplished the sport of tennis, conquering all 15 notable trophies as the primary participant in historical past. This success modified Novak’s perspective and left him with out targets for the remainder of 2024. The Serb skipped the ATP Finals in Turin and targeted on 2025.
Novak added Andy Murray to his teaching workforce, desperate to chase extra tennis glory in 2025. Djokovic will give attention to Majors within the season forward of us, feeling assured about his possibilities in opposition to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Novak’s earlier Brisbane marketing campaign
As we already mentioned, Djokovic will play in Brisbane for the primary time since 2009. The 21-year-old may have loved a greater run on his match debut. He fell to his good good friend Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and a half within the first spherical. The Serb suffered his earliest exit since Miami in March 2008.Â
Gulbis collected 12 factors greater than Djokovic and deserved to win. The Latvian denied two of 4 break factors and took benefit of the rival’s poor first serve proportion. Novak landed in solely 48% of the primary serve and struggled to impose his strokes.
He performed in opposition to 13 break factors and acquired damaged 4 occasions to expertise an early exit. Djokovic modified his racquet forward of the brand new season and wanted time to get used to the brand new one. Gulbis made a dependable begin at Pat Rafter Enviornment.
He broke Novak within the fifth sport and moved in entrance. The lower-ranked participant served properly within the remaining video games and clinched the opener 6-4. The second set noticed 4 consecutive breaks within the early levels. Novak served properly in video games 5 and 7.
Nevertheless, Gulbis responded with nice serving and made a push on the return at 4-4. The Latvian secured a pivotal break in sport 9 and held within the subsequent one to finish the Serb’s first Brisbane marketing campaign sooner than anticipated.Â
Djokovic’s 2024 season
Novak terminated the GOAT race in 2023, taking part in in 4 Main finals and lifting three titles to depart Rafael Nadal behind. The Serb couldn’t repeat that run this season, reaching one Main last however successful the title he desired essentially the most!
Competing at his fifth Olympic Video games, Djokovic threw the whole lot at his possibilities in Paris. He suffered a knee harm at Roland Garros and underwent surgical procedure. The legend recovered for Wimbledon and defeated 5 rivals to succeed in a Main last.
Like a 12 months in the past, Novak misplaced to Carlos Alcaraz, struggling within the opening two units and struggling a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 defeat. He left it behind and turned his give attention to the Olympic Video games, looking for the one notable title lacking from his assortment.Â
Olympic Video games glory
Lower than two months after surgical procedure, Djokovic embraced one other run at Roland Garros. He toppled the doubles specialist Matthew Ebden within the first spherical. The legend dropped one sport and organized the sixtieth conflict in opposition to his best rival, Rafael Nadal.Â
Novak was the favourite and proved that with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph, transferring into the final 16. Djokovic stormed over a gran opponent within the opening 11 video games, constructing a 6-1, 4-0 benefit. Nadal revived a few of his Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier magic and pulled two breaks again.
The Spaniard locked the outcome at 4-4 earlier than dropping serve in sport 9. Novak sealed the take care of a maintain in sport ten, incomes his thirty first and final overcome Rafa. Djokovic handed Dominik Koepfer within the third spherical and set the quarter-final duel with Stefanos Tsitsipas.Â
The Serb struggled with ache in his troubled knee within the second set. He trailed and appeared in all type of troubles within the second set. Nevertheless, Novak bounced again and saved set factors, prevailing within the tie break and reaching his fourth semi-final on the Olympic Video games.Â
Wanting to cross this impediment for the primary time, Djokovic beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-4 and set the title conflict in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard got here to Paris after incomes a ‘Channel Slam’ and was the favourite in opposition to the veteran.
Nevertheless, Novak left the whole lot on the courtroom in a 7-6, 7-6 triumph in two hours and 52 minutes, incomes a gold medal and beginning an emotional celebration. Djokovic saved eight break factors in two difficult video games of the opening set.
He fired up his forehand within the pivotal moments of each tie breaks to seal the deal in straight units and safe one in every of his best victories in a profession.
Slowing the engines down
Novak couldn’t discover motivation forward of the US Open, dropping to Alexei Popyrin within the third spherical. Djokovic entered just one official match after main his nation within the Davis Cup. He reached the Shanghai Masters last and fell to Jannik Sinner in straight units.
Novak withdrew from the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals, ending his season early and specializing in 2025. The Serb will work with Andy Murray within the upcoming season, beginning the motion in Brisbane and hoping for an excellent run.