Novak Djokovic is currently ranked as the third-best player in men’s tennis, a position he is quite familiar with after almost two decades. In 2007, Djokovic reached the semifinals of the French Open and Wimbledon and the final of the U.S. Open at the age of 20. He maintained the No. 3 ranking until May 2009, with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer being the top two players standing in his way during that time.
In the 2024 season, Djokovic faces Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, both of whom have proven to be formidable opponents for him this year.
Sinner recently defeated Djokovic in the Shanghai Masters final, marking his second victory over Djokovic this year and maintaining a winning streak against him in their past ATP meetings. Alcaraz has also had success against Djokovic, winning consecutive Wimbledon finals against him. Djokovic, however, did secure an Olympic gold medal by defeating Alcaraz earlier this year.
With Sinner and Alcaraz dominating the four Grand Slam titles this year, Djokovic finds himself without a major title in a calendar year for only the second time since 2010. Despite this, Djokovic remains motivated by the pursuit of Grand Slam titles, aiming to surpass Margaret Court’s record of 24 titles.
Looking ahead, Djokovic faces the challenge of balancing his fitness and performance in major tournaments, knowing that losses to players like Sinner and Alcaraz could impact his ranking and seeding in future events. As he navigates this new landscape in men’s tennis, Djokovic remains focused on his goal of winning Grand Slam titles and pushing his own limits in the sport.