Highlights: Djokovic recovers to making winning start at Indian Wells
Video credit: SNTV
The long run towards the French Open has begun.
After coming so close to winning an elusive 25th major at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic will have another shot at glory on the red dirt of Paris when the tournament begins in May, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Before then, the Serbian will likely feature across the annual spring glut of ATP 1000 tournaments – the Sunshine Double of Indian Wells and Miami, before the clay showpieces in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome.
Djokovic, who will turn 39 just days before this year’s Roland-Garros, almost pulled off the unthinkable at January’s Australian Open.
He beat Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals over five sets, and took the first set off Carlos Alcaraz in the final, before the Spaniard fought back to win his first Melbourne crown and become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.
Just how is Djokovic still able to duke it out with these two young superstars, who between them have won the last nine majors in a row?
The physical durability is one thing that Djokovic continues to be famed for, but going under the bonnet of his tennis, there is evidence of the Serbian evolving once more to stay at the top of the game.
‘I think she’s coming back’ – Djokovic hopes for Serena Williams return at Wimbledon
Video credit: SNTV
Turning his game inside out
When taking on the hypothetical game of building a perfect tennis player, it’s often Djokovic’s backhand that features highly in people’s thinking.
And rightly so, of course, with it being a shot that has consistently helped him turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye.
But it’s Djokovic’s forehand that has really come to the fore in the past year, especially in an attacking sense.
In ATP events in 2025 – where the 38-year-old sought to gain form and fitness ahead of the Slams – a tactical tweak was notably visible.
2025 shot (ATP events)Win %Impact %Forehand inside in/out62.3%20.8%Forehand from middle62%22.9%Forehand line54.3%17.9%
Djokovic’s penchant for using his inside in/out forehand is especially clear, with this being the groundstroke responsible for his highest win percentage of points in 2025.
When we look at the exact same data points for 2024, the evolution is striking, with his win percentage on the inside in/out forehand a whopping 16.8% higher in 2025, with the associated ‘impact’ (see definitions below) also greater.
2024 shot (ATP events)Win %Impact %Forehand inside in/out45.5%16.5%Forehand from middle58.9%21.8%Forehand line52.4%20%
We can also compare his forehand to his backhand in the 2025 season, and you can see a marked difference – even for his favoured cross-court play.
2025 shot (ATP events)Win %Impact %Backhand middle53.6%6.9%Backhand cross-court48.4%0.2%Backhand line49.7%12.6%
Data: TDI – Courtside Advantage
Definitions:
Win % = the percentage of points won when the play is usedImpact = hot plays – cold playsHot plays: winners, shots which move the player into attack, shots leading to an opponent errorCold plays: Unforced errors, shots which lead to the opponent being in attack, shots leading to an opponent’s winner
Watch best shots from men’s final between Alcaraz and Djokovic
Video credit: TNT Sports
Was this forehand focus something Djokovic identified purely based on his own game?
Or did the brutality regularly dished out by Sinner and especially Alcaraz on that wing over the last couple of years play a role in his thinking?
Whatever the reasoning, it bore fruit against Sinner in Melbourne, with the Serbian hitting 22 forehand rally winners during the match compared to the Italian’s 13.
And it could prove crucial again on the slower clay of Roland-Garros as Djokovic tries to find a way past all comers to secure that 25th major crown.
How long can Djokovic go on?
How long Djokovic will continue playing is a question on the lips of many tennis fans, with the Serbian following the path of longevity shown by the likes of Tom Brady, LeBron James, and his old foes Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Speaking at Indian Wells this week, Djokovic appears to still be targeting an Olympic swansong involving the defence of his Paris 2024 men’s singles title at LA 2028.
“That’s one of the long-term goals, to reach the Olympics. That would be nice,” Djokovic said.
“It’s still a long way off. I think at my age and this stage of my career, every year seems like a longer period than it is for anyone who is younger.
“But I’ll try to make it, definitely one of the motivations, so I’ll try to be there.”
Watch and stream the 2026 French Open on TNT Sports and HBO Max