"It is not his best surface to begin with" - John Isner believes Novak Djokovic is focused on winning one tournament this season
ATP
As Novak Djokovic continues to navigate his poor start to the 2025 ATP season, retired American John Isner is of the opinion that the Serbian has set his sights on prevailing at one particular event this year.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion suffered an opening round loss to Matteo Arnaldi at the 2025 Madrid Open. This is Djokovic's fourth opening round loss this season, as the 37-year old is experiencing a dip in form that saw him win his last tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Isner believes Djokovic is prepping for a Grand Slam title run this summer
The Serbian himself has admitted he has shifted his focus to Grand Slam events. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Djokovic would like to win one more Major title before he retires, with Isner stating Wimbledon would be the ideal choice for the former World No.1.
"It is really hard for us to say but I think he only cares about Wimbledon at this point,” Isner said on the Nothing Major Podcast. “It is very hard for him to win Roland Garros and maybe he might even understand that now.
“Three out of five sets over two weeks on clay, with all the great players, with [Jannik] Sinner coming back – it is very unlikely. It is not his best surface to begin with, he is playing poorly on it right now.
“He was very frustrated on the practice court in Madrid. I don’t know if you guys saw but he just had a frustrated moment on the practice court, which we have all had, but it’s pretty amazing to see from the guy who has completed the game of tennis.
“Three out of five sets over two weeks on clay, with all the great players, with [Jannik] Sinner coming back – it is very unlikely. It is not his best surface to begin with, he is playing poorly on it right now.
“He was very frustrated on the practice court in Madrid. I don’t know if you guys saw but he just had a frustrated moment on the practice court, which we have all had, but it’s pretty amazing to see from the guy who has completed the game of tennis.
"He still wants more and that is so admirable. He is still getting frustrated on the practice court and wants to continue to get better and try and compete for these big tournaments like in Madrid. That obviously did not happen this week or in Monte Carlo. He will play Rome and the French Open and gear up for Wimbledon.
“I think give him another day and he will put this loss behind him and we all know that his goals for the rest of his career are to try and win another Grand Slam, which would be ridiculous for him to do at 37 or 38 years old."
“I think give him another day and he will put this loss behind him and we all know that his goals for the rest of his career are to try and win another Grand Slam, which would be ridiculous for him to do at 37 or 38 years old."
Novak Djokovic has announced he won't take part to #IBI25.
— Internazionali BNL d'Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) April 29, 2025
See you next year, Nole ❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/UfRmUck5kc
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.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- One step by another step -- WTA continues to 'lose the plot'. Too many hi-tech microphones being installed at most venues!!! Remove them (especially those along the hallways, sidewalks, and pathways throughout the venues. Not to mention (most of all) remove the mic's from the Players/Coaches Box.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.mandoist06-11-2026
- Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Jess is absolutely correct! But the disrespect is a trait I have noticed in most of the Russian players. Mirra is good but very immature and lacks humility. Conceivable needs to get a handle on that!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Having spent weeks and weeks through the years on tour, I can say with confidence that Conchita was (is) one of the very few who realize the surprising level of maturity (and sometimes lack of) which Mirra seems to have developed in such a demanding adult world of Pro-Tennis. While at the same time reminding herself (Conchita, that is) that Mirra is still young and developing mentally and physically. The general public may forget at times, or not at all realize, these modern era young athletes do not have a 'normal' Youth. It's a major sacrifice, among countless sacrifices, these athletes must make. People who blow-off that fact are ignorant and unfair when they blurt out, "They choose fame so they have to put up with the intrusions on their lives". No, they do not.mandoist05-11-2026
- Okay... someone with a camera was EAVESDROPPING on a private conversation. Shouldn't that be the point of discussion here? Regardless of the sensationalist crap by media, Pegula (and anyone) has a right to an opinion. There used to be an expectation that private conversations were respected, regardless of 'stardom' and whatever other defensive excuses media tries to shove in our faces. Boo-hoo if feelings are hurt. BTW: Having been employed at various tourney venues, etc., I can't tell you how nasty and offensive players can be when discussing their opponents and colleagues... in "private". Well, I could, but won't. I also challenge anyone to deny what Jessica said is false.mandoist05-11-2026
- Vacherot is Mongasque, rather than Swiss. The tournament was Swiss :DTrwd7702-11-2026
- After a couple decades traveling to IIHF tourneys overseas... our family is done with it... and I will not be the only one!! Bad enough the NHL allows Ovachenko (a Putin Supporter and Campaigner) to live and play in the USA. Let's not forget the STATE SPONSORED RUSSIAN DOPING PROGRAMS still in effect today.mandoist31-10-2026
- Osaka's mental state apparently does not allow her to reach any more Quarter Finals? I mean, she doesn't really have the time for tennis with all the pre-planning that must go into her 12 year-old "fashion" goals.mandoist29-10-2026
- With her money one would think she could afford a better team of Psychiatrists?mandoist29-10-2026
