No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsNovak Djokovic: On the Verge of Tennis History

Novak Djokovic: On the Verge of Tennis History

Novak Djokovic reached the barrier of 23 Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros on Sunday and still seems poised to pulverize some of tennis’ statistical limits.

After winning Roland Garros, where is Djokovic’s ceiling?

“I’m still motivated, I feel inspired to play the best tennis in these tournaments, in the Grand Slams. They are the ones that count the most in the history of our sport. I’m looking forward to Wimbledon already,” said the Serb after winning his third Parisian Grand Slam.

The Grand Slam tournaments

In three weeks, Djokovic will go into Wimbledon as the overwhelming favorite, where he will be aiming for an eighth title to equal Federer’s record on the London grass (only Martina Navratilova has 9 wins). Since his defeat in the quarters in 2017, he has not lost in that ‘Grande’, or in other words, four titles and 28 matches won in a row.

Djokovic could therefore equal the absolute record of 24 Grand Slam titles held by Margaret Court. Then comes the US Open, on hard surface, his favorite, although New York has ‘only’ smiled on him on three occasions.

And at the beginning of next year he could return to the Australian Open as favorite for an eleventh title in Melbourne. How many more Grand Slam tournaments can he win? “He will find the motivation to win 24, maybe 25. Who knows where he will stop?” wonders his coach Goran Ivanisevic.

The Grand Slam

Conquering all four Grand Slam tournaments in the same year, which no one has done in the men’s category since Rod Laver in 1969… is what would elevate Djokovic beyond comparison for a long time.

The Serb had a chance to achieve it in 2021 but failed to be at his level in the US Open final lost to Daniil Medvedev. “He was one win away two years ago, there’s a chance this year,” Ivanisevic reckons.

A record 7th Masters

He shares with Federer the record of six wins at the Masters, which brings together the eight best players of the season each year.

A seventh title would allow him to become the only holder of that record. Undoubtedly an extra motivation for him when the time comes, although he always insists that it is the Grand Slam tournaments that motivate him the most.

109 tour titles

It is perhaps Jimmy Connors’ record (set in Tel Aviv in 1989) that seems most elusive. Djokovic is at 94, like Ivan Lendl, and has Federer’s 103 titles in his sights.

Since the 2006 season, when he won his first ATP tournament, the Serb has won an average of five a year. At that rate, he could reach Connors’ level by 2026.

The main uncertainty, his body

At 36, his body is still surprisingly efficient. Carlos Alcaraz paid with physical problems for the energetic game imposed on him by Djokovic in the last semifinals in Paris.

“I think he still has a lot in the engine,” Ivanisevic revealed. “I don’t know how much time he has left, but his body is incredible, he stays in super shape. He doesn’t get injured too much, little things here, little things there, but no major injuries. He still moves like a ninja on the track, he’s everywhere. It’s fascinating to watch him.

He believes that “age is just a number,” acknowledging that his body, which he takes meticulous care of, has been “reacting differently” for some time now.

Trending Now

Costa Rican President Brushes Off Surge in Homicides

President Rodrigo Chaves has again brushed off Costa Rica's mounting security problems, labeling them as misunderstandings in a recent interview. Speaking on FOX Noticias,...

Costa Rica Peanut Growing Guide From Planting to Harvest

Not long ago, a neighbor gave us some peanuts she said were from Peru. Since we’ve had good luck growing peanuts, we were excited...

Costa Rica Monitors Caribbean Tropical Wave with 70% Storm Chance

Those who live along the Caribbean coast know all too well how quickly weather can turn in October. Right now, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional...

Tourist Numbers Dropped in Costa Rica During 2025’s First Seven Months

Costa Rica's tourism took a hit in the first seven months of 2025, with visitor numbers dropping compared to the previous year. By the...

Panama Denounces New U.S. Pressure Over Chinese Companies

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino on Thursday accused the United States of pressuring Panamanian officials to reduce the presence of Chinese companies in the...

Guatemalan Migrant Children Fear Deportation by Trump

At 15, I.B. fled poverty and an abusive father in Guatemala. She emigrated alone to the United States, like hundreds of children living in...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica