"Novak still has it" – Andrea Petkovic backs Djokovic to win 25th Grand Slam in 2025

Novak Djokovic, a true titan of the sporting world, continues to defy age and expectations. At 37, the Serbian star still competes at the highest level, proving his talent knows no bounds. In 2025, he will relentlessly pursue his 25th Grand Slam, further cementing his legacy in the sport.

Former German tennis star Andrea Petkovic's praise for Djokovic is a testament to his enduring spirit, as she rightly sees that there is still plenty left in his tank.

Djokovic's Australian Open

Now that Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Rafael Nadal have all said their goodbyes to the sport, Djokovic is the last one standing from the 'Big Four'. Yet, Djokovic still has the eye of the tiger, arriving in Melbourne fully focused on securing his 11th title Down Under.

He looked to be in excellent form, beating the likes of Nishesh Basavareddy, Jaime Faria, and Tomáš Macháč before taking on bigger names. His quarter-final matchup with Carlos Alcaraz was particularly impressive, as Djokovic defeated the third seed in a four-set battle.

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However, his tournament came to an abrupt end when he was forced to withdraw from his semi-final contest against Alexander Zverev after the first set due to a muscle tear.

On her blog, Petkovic stated that anyone who doubted Djokovic was proven wrong, arguing that he played some of the best tennis of the tournament before his withdrawal.

"Whoever doubts Novak's tennis ever again, whether Novak's 37 years old or 55 years old, should be punished with perpetual silence from this day forth. Yes, I'm talking about myself. It's not that I ever doubted the quality of tennis necessarily; it's just that I couldn't quite believe he would be able to retain enough explosiveness to hang with the young guys," Andrea Petkovic wrote on Substack.

"Novak still has it, and I would argue that he played better than ever in three matches (Machac, Lehecka, and Alcaraz). He was still the same consistent percentage player who never misses, but conscious of his age, he hit the ball bigger and changed directions more frequently, yet still undetectable for the opposing side," she added.

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Physical fitness

Novak Djokovic 

Petkovic went on to praise Djokovic's physical fitness, especially given his age. The German former player also predicted that Djokovic would secure his 25th Grand Slam title in 2025.

"He would get 25 in '25 until his body let him down. That is the only thing that can continue to be an issue at 37 years old – the body that has served him so bloody well for so long. Our strengths become our weaknesses become our strengths again. The circle of life," Petkovic wrote.

"But one thing's for sure: This one right here will never doubt Novak's tennis again. 23, 37 or 45. Years are just numbers that fade in the rearview mirror, but titles stay forever," she added.

Looking ahead

Djokovic is a legend of the game, and it will be fascinating to see what 2025 has in store for him. With his relentless mindset, he remains one of the sport’s most dominant figures—and, as Petkovic suggests, he may have even more Grand Slam titles left to claim.

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