"A 39-year-old is simply too old to compete with a 22-year-old": Former World No.1 calls Novak Djokovic 25th Grand Slam chances 'practically impossible'

Wednesday, 31 December 2025 at 19:12

Former World No.1 Veygeny Kafelnikov has cast major doubt on the fact that Novak Djokovic could indeed win a record extending 25th Grand Slam title in the future ahead of the Australian Open.

No man in tennis history in theory can match Djokovic or even Nadal or Federer at this point but Djokovic would gain ultimate supremacy by reaching 25 Grand Slams. It has been over two years since he jumped to the top of the standings and since then, he has not won a Grand Slam.

This has also seen the marked rise of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz who have become all conquering forces in the annuls of tennis folklore. He has reached just one major final since the 2023 US Open at 2024 Wimbledon with Alcaraz and Sinner splitting the last eight Grand Slam titles between them.

They have dominated the tour as a whole and Alcaraz is not even 23, Sinner even is not even 25 yet. Djokovic on the other hand will turn 39 and is watching as he is almost the last one standing. Even showman Gael Monfils and his old rival Stan Wawrinka are calling it quits next year and Kafelnikov known for comments in the past which have stirred the tennis pot says his reasoning is merely down to the age gap.

Djokovic still playing baffling

He said that a 39-year-old as remarkable as he is cannot compete with a 22-year-old no matter what people say and that in reality Djokovic cannot recover as quick when he is nearly 40.

“Honestly, I doubt that he can do it," said Kafelnikov as per CLAY. "He is the greatest player of all time, no question about it, but competing with these young guys… Novak is not even 35 anymore, he’s 39 now ]in May]. Believe me, the body and metabolism don’t allow you to recover quickly enough or move like a younger player. Nobody can beat nature.

“A 39-year-old is simply too old to compete with a 22-year-old in peak physical condition. He can still compete in best-of-three events, but best-of-five… that’s practically impossible.”

But more baffling for Kafelnikov is that he is still playing at all with Djokovic wanting to play until the 2028 Olympic Games at least in LA. A decision that has somewhat baffled people including the Russian who said that it purely has to be down to wanting to appease his fan base and nothing else.

“I do want to keep on going,” said Djokovic. "I said LA Olympics, 2028, is kind of a guiding star, but honestly, there’s no limit. So let’s see, you know what I mean?

“I just keep going. I love hitting the tennis ball, and I love competing. I was saying to the guys that I was talking to, the greats in football, that it’s really about passion and love. As long as you really feel like you’re playing on a high level and your body holds on, why not?”

While it shows courage and dedication in his view it is also slightly puzzling as Djokovic has very little still to achieve in the higher echelons of the game.

“I honestly have no clue,” added Kafelnikov. "I’ve said it before -– maybe he feels too loyal to his fan base around the world, to the people who want him to keep going. And that’s fine. Hats off to Novak for that.

“It just shows his courage and dedication. But I really can’t come up with any other reason why he’s still playing.”

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Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.

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