Novak Djokovic, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, may be nearing the twilight of his career, not just physically, but mentally as well.
According to Patrick Mouratoglou, former coach of Serena Williams, the Serbian superstar may have lost the internal fire that once drove him to dominate the sport.
In a recent episode of the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) podcast, hosted by Nick Kyrgios, Mouratoglou offered a candid assessment of Djokovic’s current mindset. When Kyrgios asked, "So is Novak nearly finished?", Mouratoglou did not deny the possibility.
"He’s just realized that he would be the best of all times because Rafa was out and the thing he was fighting for 15 years... suddenly there’s no more goal,” Mouratoglou said. "So I think he completely lost the motivation, which is easy to understand, which is normal.".
Djokovic claimed his record-equalling 24th Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open. Since then, the Serbian icon has gone nearly two years without adding another major trophy, an unusually long drought for someone who has defined the modern era of dominance.
With Roger Federer retired and Rafael Nadal having said his farewells in 2024, Mouratoglou believes the departure of his long-time rivals has left Djokovic without the burning purpose that once fueled him.
"He’s such an incredible competitor, but when you reach the mountaintop and no one is climbing with you, it’s lonely," Mouratoglou said.
The French coach pointed to Djokovic’s 2025 French Open against Jannik Sinner as an example. Djokovic played well but lacked his trademark killer instinct, ultimately falling short in a four set match.
"I felt he was more in demonstration mode than wanting to win," Mouratoglou said. "He just wanted to feel like, ‘I can still hang with these guys. I want to enjoy the moment, I want the crowd to like me, I want to do a nice press conference after.’ I exaggerate, but I felt this the whole match.".
Nick Kyrgios, who has faced Djokovic in a Wimbledon final and now serves as a pundit, agreed. He shared a candid encounter with Djokovic earlier this year at Indian Wells that left him genuinely surprised.
"I asked him, ‘Why are you here?’" Kyrgios recalled. "He just goes, ‘I don’t know.’ I said, ‘What about your kids? Why not spend time with your family?’ and he’s like, ‘Gee, I don’t know.’ That was the first time I thought, maybe he misses his family a lot.".
Kyrgios believes Djokovic may be drifting, still physically present on the tour, but emotionally detached from its grind. And with the US Open around the corner, the Aussie thinks it could be a make-or-break moment.
"If he doesn’t win this one, I don’t think he can win another one," Kyrgios said bluntly.
To many, Djokovic’s numbers are untouchable: 24 Grand Slam titles, 100+ ATP titles, more weeks at world No. 1 than anyone in history. But now, it seems the stats aren’t enough to drive him. He is no longer chasing Federer or Nadal, he is ahead. The war has been won. The question is: what’s left to fight for?
That’s why the 2025 US Open may carry more emotional weight than any Slam before it. It’s not just about Djokovic adding to his trophy haul; it is about whether he still wants to. Whether he still needs to.
If he lifts the trophy in New York, it might just reignite the fire. If he does not, it could signal the quiet end of an era, not with a farewell speech, but with a slow fading out of ambition.
Either way, the next few months could be the most telling of Novak Djokovic’s legendary career. Not because of what’s left to win, but because of what’s left to prove.
Sean Killen is a contributing journalist for both DartsNews.com and Tennisuptodate.com, where he balances his university studies with writing news updates, player features, and match reports across both sports.
Before joining the sites, Sean built experience across student and professional media. He serves as TV News Director for Cardiff University TV (CUTV), has reported for Gair Rhydd and The Cardiff Times, and produced viral news coverage that gained international attention. His reporting spans sports, breaking news, and human-interest features, and he’s worked across platforms including print, online, radio, and video.
Sean has followed the ATP and WTA tennis tours closely for years, with a growing interest in darts through the Premier League and World Championship circuits. He brings a sharp eye for storytelling, a commitment to accuracy, and a passion for making niche sports accessible to wider audiences.
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