Tennis legend Boris Becker believes Novak Djokovic faces an uphill battle to win his elusive 25th Grand Slam title, citing the rise of younger rivals like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic’s Major Setbacks
Novak Djokovic’s quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title continues after suffering his third consecutive semifinal loss at a Major this year. His recent defeat came at Wimbledon, where he fell to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
The 3-6, 3-6, 4-6 loss mirrored his earlier defeat to Sinner at the French Open. Despite a strong run to the semifinals, beating players like Dan Evans and Alex de Minaur, Djokovic couldn’t overcome the Italian star.
Becker’s Frank Assessment
Djokovic’s former coach, Boris Becker, shared his thoughts on the “elusive number 25” during his podcast, ‘Becker Petkovic’. He questioned if Djokovic, at 38, could still win another Grand Slam.
“That’s the big question now, because to win a Grand Slam, he probably has to beat both [Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner],” Becker stated. He noted that Wimbledon, which Djokovic has won seven times, was considered his best chance.
The Young Guard Takes Over
Becker emphasized the significant challenge posed by Sinner and Alcaraz. He believes these young stars are now leading the way in men’s tennis.
“On their good days, Sinner and Alcaraz are better than Djokovic is on his good days,” Becker remarked. This reality, he suggested, must be frustrating for Djokovic.
Age and Injury Concerns
Becker also pointed to the physical toll of the game on a veteran player. He mentioned Djokovic’s slight injury against Flavio Cobolli in an earlier match.
“At 38, you get injured more easily,” Becker observed. While Djokovic seemed fit in the first two sets against Sinner, the younger player simply outmatched him.
Sinner: “Djokovic 2.0”
Becker drew a striking comparison between Sinner and Djokovic. He described Sinner as “Djokovic 2.0,” a younger, updated version of the Serbian star.
“He’s another version of Djokovic, 15 years younger. Novak knows that, too,” Becker added, highlighting the profound challenge Sinner presents.
A Realist’s Perspective on 25
While glad Djokovic reached the semifinals, Becker questioned if that’s enough for a player whose main motivation is to become the sole record holder for Grand Slam titles.
“He’s still playing tennis because he wants to win 25 Grand Slams,” Becker said. “But he’s a realist. The question is, how realistic are the chances he’ll win another Grand Slam now, because time is running out for him.”
- Novak Djokovic has suffered three consecutive Grand Slam semifinal losses this year.
- Former coach Boris Becker believes Djokovic must beat both Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz to win another Major.
- Becker describes Jannik Sinner as “Djokovic 2.0,” a younger, superior version of the Serbian on their best days.
- Becker questions the realism of Djokovic winning a 25th Major due to age, increased injury risk, and the dominance of younger rivals.
The tennis world now watches to see if Djokovic can defy these odds and claim his historic 25th Grand Slam title at the upcoming US Open.
