Former
world No. 1 Jimmy Connors expressed that the young players on the ATP Tour are
hungry to defeat Novak Djokovic, but they will eventually tire of the 24-times
Grand Slam champion continuing to dominate tournaments and Slams. 'Nole' began
the year as the world No. 1 for the eighth time in his career.
With
Federer's retirement and Nadal's injuries, in recent years, there hasn't been
someone who truly challenges Djokovic's reign as in the prime years of the
Big-3. Although Carlos Alcaraz has already won two Grand Slam titles, including
the Wimbledon final where he defeated 'Nole', the Serbian tennis player had a
record of 27-1 in Grand Slams in 2023, securing three titles. This was a
considerable lead over Alcaraz's 25-6 record, who claimed his title at SW19 but
faced two defeats in the major semifinals.
Connors
Picks Djokovic to Stay on Top in 2024
Djokovic
fell just one match short of completing the Calendar Slam (winning all four in
a single year). According to recent comments from Jimmy Connors on his podcast
"Advantage Connors," younger players may grow weary of 'Nole's
continued success:
“I hope it
turns out like that [younger players taking over from Djokovic] because if it
does it's going to be fun to watch. Where there's good matches and tight
matches and guys having to push themselves to the next level, to the brink to
come through and then snap your fingers and they got to be out on the court
again the next day and have to do it over again,” the American said.
"That would
be fun to watch. It's another year with Djoker at the top, eventually they're
going to get tired of it,” he added.
"The
young guys who are very hungry and very inspired to play their best tennis
against me is an additional motivation. I think they kind of awaken a beast in
me," he told CBS in December,” 7-times Grand Slam champion stated.
“But on the
other hand, I like what Djokovic said. He says ‘If they're not beating me, I'm
staying.’ And I get that. Because eventually, age beats everybody. But how cool
is that to look back and say ‘Listen, I fought it, I gave it everything I had.
And there's only one thing that beat me and that was age.’ That'd be pretty
cool,” he concluded.
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.