Novak Djokovic is the top favorite at the 2025 AO according to bookmakers

Novak Djokovic‘s season has been full of ups and downs, although the Serbian legend has finally achieved his big goal: winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Paris. The former world number 1 had precisely set the Olympic tournament as his main goal in 2024 and has delivered a real achievement on a surface that is not ideal for his playing style.

The top favorite to win the gold medal was absolute Carlos Alcarazwho had won the French Open and the Wimbledon Championships with some truly fantastic tennis. The 24-time Grand Slam champion put all his energy into the field by triumphing in two tiebreaks and once again proving himself to be a living legend of the sport.

Nole burst into tears at the end of the match and ran to hug his family, a gesture that confirms how important it was for him to complete the puzzle at the end of his career. The 37-year-old from Belgrade recently expressed his intention to continue playing for many years to come. but he never lost his motivation.

Nole is a special person

For this reason, the current world number 4 will continue to carefully select events to attend. His focus will be on the Grand Slam tournaments and events in which he can represent Serbia. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is the only major veteran still competing at the top of world tennis. Roger Federer And Andy Murray are retired, while Rafa Nadal has played very little this year and seems close to announcing his retirement.

In a recent interview with Eurosport, ATP legend and top analyst Mats Wilander paid tribute to Nole: “Well, Novak Djokovic is a special person. We know that. It’s absolutely incredible that he has the drive to still go out there and try to win matches in the big tournaments, but even in the small tournaments, and to play Davis Cup. It’s impressive that he wants to do his best physically.

But practicing when you’re his age and have won as much as he has is an absolute joy. I’m not talking about the gym sessions, but I’m talking about hitting the tennis ball against, remember, he’s on tour, people like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev. He plays with the best players in the world because they want to practice with him. They don’t care if they play another match three days later. They want to practice and have a great time.”

At 37 years old, Novak will have to work even harder if he wants to keep up with young champions Jannik Sinner and Carlitos Alcaraz. The Italian ace defeated him in the Davis Cup Finals and the semi-finals of the Australian Open last year, while the Spanish champion won the Wimbledon Championships for the second year in a row.

Speaking at a press conference in Shanghai, the former world number 1 opened up about Sinner’s controversy: “I think it’s quite clear that we have a system that doesn’t work, something that even people who don’t follow our sport will realize. There are too many regulatory bodiesinconsistency in their decisions, and everything that happens doesn’t help tennis at all. Jannik has won all three appeals and now faces a new trial. It must be very hard for him and his family.

What surprises me most is the impressive level of play he displays, winning most of the matches he plays despite being in a situation like this. I just hope this matter can be resolved as soon as possible because… everything that happens is not good for our sport.”

An epic career

The 37-year-old from Belgrade will become one of the stars of the ‘Six Kings Slam‘ in Saudi Arabia from October 16 to 19. Novak has already qualified for the semi-finals, where he is waiting for match winner Sinner and Medvedev. There is no doubt that the coming year will be crucial for the Serbian legend, who will look to win the 25th Major of his incredible career.

Djokovic is still the bookmakers’ favorite for the 2025 Australian Open, but he will have to pay a lot of attention to Sinner, Alcaraz and Medvedev. For the first time since 2017 – when he suffered from an elbow injury – Nole has not won a single Grand Slam title this year. The Serbian star also suffered a knee injury during the French Open, which forced him to undergo surgery just before Wimbledon. Despite not being at the top of his game, Djokovic reached the final at Church Road but was forced to surrender to a luxury version of Alcaraz.