"He actually comes in as a bit of an underdog" - Tennis legend on Novak Djokovic's title chances at the 2025 Australian Open

Wednesday, 16 October 2024 at 03:30

Former World No.1 Novak Djokovic is no longer the favorite to lift the Australian Open title next season, and should be viewed more as an underdog at the event, according to tennis legend Todd Woodbridge.

The Serbian superstar was unable to win a Grand Slam title this season, with 2024 being the first time he has failed to win a Major since the 2017 season. Djokovic won his only title of the season to date at the Paris Olympics in August, where he defeated Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling final.

Lack of match play could play a role in Djokovic's title hopes, says Woodbridge

Although the 24-time Grand Slam champion has won 10 Australian Open titles during his distinguished career, his last came at the 2023 event. Furthermore, his last Major title came at the 2023 US Open. Having decided to focus more on Grand Slam titles during the final phase of his career, Djokovic's schedule could benefit him in the long run, according to Woodbridge.

"He’s coming into a very different and unusual phase of his career because the way he’s chosen to not play as many tournaments, his focus is on the majors,” the Australian legend told the The AO Show podcast. “He actually comes in as a bit of an underdog in all of these players we’re talking about [as title contenders] because of that, and he didn’t win a major this year. I think it’s probably going to bring him freedom in the way that he approaches it, and he’ll enjoy that.”

The 37-year old was a semi-finalist at this year's Australian Open, a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros (where he withdrew through injury), a runner-up at Wimbledon, and suffered a third round exit at the US Open.

Arthur Ajayi

Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.

As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.

With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.

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