Novak Djokovic’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster, with early exits and injuries fueling doubts about his ability to reclaim his dominance at age 37. Tennis experts and pundits, quick to write him off, may soon find themselves eating their words if Djokovic leverages his resilience and Grand Slam pedigree to silence critics, particularly at the French Open starting May 25, 2025. His history of defying skepticism, combined with strategic adjustments, suggests he could force analysts to reconsider their premature judgments.
Djokovic’s 2025 has been his worst in nearly two decades, with a 12-7 record and four opening-match defeats in his last five tournaments, including a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Matteo Arnaldi at the Madrid Open and a straight-sets defeat to Alejandro Tabilo in Monte Carlo. His withdrawal from the Italian Open, announced April 29, 2025, means he’ll enter Roland Garros without a single clay-court win this season, a stark contrast to his three-time championship pedigree in Paris. Pundit Annabel Croft, on Sky Sports, noted, “His body has been tending to break down… a lot of players now walk onto court thinking, ‘I do have a chance against him.’” Marcus Buckland echoed this, warning that Djokovic’s fitness could derail his 25th Grand Slam bid, citing his limping exit from the Australian Open semi-finals due to a hamstring injury. Posts on X, like @TheTennisLetter, highlighted his unprecedented back-to-back Masters 1000 opening-round losses, fueling narratives of decline.
Experts have also pointed to his “new reality,” as Djokovic himself described after Madrid, where he’s “trying to win a match or two” rather than dominating. His physical struggles—an eye infection in Miami, a torn leg muscle in Australia—and a rankings drop to No. 7, with Jack Draper and Alex de Minaur threatening to push him out of the top five, have emboldened critics. Croft added, “He’s gone a bit flat on the court,” suggesting a loss of aura that once intimidated opponents.
Yet, Djokovic thrives when underestimated. His 2023 US Open title, his 24th Grand Slam, came after skeptics questioned his hunger, and his 2024 Olympic gold over Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros proved he could still summon brilliance. As Coco Gauff told reporters in Madrid, “He’s the greatest tennis player… I’m always going to put him as a favorite no matter what.” Stefanos Tsitsipas and Arnaldi also cautioned against writing him off, noting his ability to elevate in best-of-five-set formats. Posts on X, like @Zwxsh, remind fans of his 10 Australian Open titles and resilience: “As long as he’s still breathing, NEVER count him out.”[]
Djokovic’s partnership with Andy Murray as coach, starting at the Australian Open, has injected fresh motivation. Murray’s tactical insight, praised by Pat Cash as a “great fit” for analyzing opponents like Sinner and Alcaraz, could sharpen Djokovic’s game. His Miami Open final run, despite a 7-6(4), 7-6(4) loss to Jakub Mensik, showed flashes of elite play, with Djokovic himself noting it restored “joy on the court.” This resilience aligns with his strategy to prioritize Grand Slams, where he’s “still got an inner confidence,” per Colin Fleming, to “turn it on” over two weeks.
Roland Garros offers Djokovic a chance to flip the narrative. His withdrawal from Rome, while risky, prioritizes recovery, potentially preserving his body for Paris’s grueling five-setters. As a No. 7 seed, he may avoid Sinner and Alcaraz until later rounds, giving him time to find form. His 96-9 Australian Open record and 411 Masters 1000 wins—surpassing Nadal’s record—prove he can still compete with younger stars. Jurgen Melzer, speaking to , suggested smarter training could help Djokovic maximize his experience against fitter opponents.
Djokovic’s mental toughness, forged through controversies like his 2022 Australian Open deportation and doping scrutiny, remains unmatched. His response to Melbourne boos after his injury withdrawal—“Thought I’d leave this here for all the sports injury ‘experts’ out there”—showed his defiance. If he channels this into a deep Roland Garros run, experts like Croft and Buckland, who’ve questioned his aura and fitness, may retract their doubts. A 25th Grand Slam or his 100th ATP title would cement his case, leaving pundits to digest their skepticism as Djokovic, per @DavidHa04461705 on X, proves he’s “still by far the best tennis player ever.”
