For most 37-year-old athletes, a winding down into \u2013 or a full acceptance of \u2013 retirement is firmly on the cards.<\/p>\n
At the 2002 US Open, Pete Sampras claimed his final Grand Slam title and retired at age 31 \u2013 an age that, at that time, was widely considered beyond a tennis player\u2019s peak.<\/p>\n
By those standards, Djokovic<\/a> lifting two titles in 2025 should already constitute a highly-successful season.<\/p>\n However, even by his own admission, the Serb has been searching for an extra level, an extra gear, by which he could claim his ultimate goal \u2013 a 25th Grand Slam.<\/p>\n Unfortunately for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, frequent breakdowns of his physical state have plagued him on occasions where he needed his body to be at its best.<\/p>\n Djokovic was candid in his assessment of his Grand Slam prospects after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets at this season\u2019s US Open.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be very difficult for me in the future to overcome the hurdle of (Jannik) Sinner, Alcaraz, in the best-of-five on the Grand Slams,\u201d admitted the Serbian superstar.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I have a better chance best-of-three, but best-of-five, it\u2019s tough.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not giving up on Grand Slams in that regard, having said that. I\u2019m going to continue fighting and trying to get to the finals and fight for another trophy at least.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, you know, it\u2019s going to be a very difficult task.\u201d<\/p>\n Below, we outline three distinct, but ultimately connected goals that will be crucial for Djokovic to create a successful 2026 season.<\/p>\n Health and schedule<\/p>\n Throughout his career, Djokovic\u2019s physical durability has been one of his defining traits, having missed just one Grand Slam through injury (the US Open in 2017).<\/p>\n In 2025, however, that reliability finally showed signs of erosion, with recurring physical issues plaguing his ability to sustain his desired level.<\/p>\n Whilst Djokovic produced his best tennis at the Grand Slams, the injuries and lack of recovery time left him without the reserves required to overcome his far younger rivals in best-of-five clashes.<\/p>\n Across the season, he participated in 13 events, winning two titles, but, unusually, losing his opening match at four of those tournaments.<\/p>\n In 2026, the Serb will be looking to manage his schedule to reduce the physical breakdowns \u2013 a challenge that is often faced by the world\u2019s best at the end of their careers.<\/p>\n Based on his comments, it appears as though the former world No 1 will shift his emphasis away from the Grand Slams towards the best-of-three events, where he feels his chances against both Alcaraz and Sinner are maximised.<\/p>\n Latest Tennis News<\/p>\n