"The big issue is, will he play the Australian Open?" - Mischa Zverev unsure if Djokovic will ever recapture the World No.1 ranking
ATP
Mischa Zverev has told Eurosport Germany’s Markus Paszehr on an Instagram live that he is unsure if Novak Djokovic will reclaim the world No. 1 spot.
The 21-time Grand Slam singles champion Djokovic claimed his third title of what has been a largely frustrating 2022 for him as he cruised past fellow veteran Marin Cilic, 6-3 6-4, in the final of Tel Aviv Open on Sunday.
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Djokovic was forced to miss the US Open due to his decision not to get vaccinated from Covid-19 and was delighted to get back to winning ways on the ATP Tour with a fine victory and what he described as a "really amazing experience" at the event. The 35-year-old did not drop a single set as he won the 89th tour-level title of his career.
However, having missed the Australian Open and US Open, where he was defending champion and finalist respectively, and with no ranking points on offer at Wimbledon, where he was also defending champion, Djokovic has fallen to world No.7.
And while Zverev is backing the 34-year-old to play for many years to come, he has placed doubt on his ability to get back to the top of the world rankings.
"The way Novak looks, he can play another three or four years,” Zverev told Eurosport in the Instagram live. “Age is only a number if you do everything right on and off the court like Novak.
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“But I don't know if he will be world No. 1 again. The big issue will be: Will he play the Australian Open? If it goes badly and later in the year there are no ranking points at Wimbledon again, he would potentially be 4000 points short."
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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mandoist08-11-2026 - Wtf? Why is there no reason? And what about the men's?Bel08-11-2026
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mandoist06-11-2026 - Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.
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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
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mandoist31-10-2026









