The three reasons why Novak Djokovic is underperforming in 2024

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Monday, 13 May 2024 at 13:59
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Novak Djokovic's 2024 season is far from being positive for the current world No. 1. The Serb, in the tournaments he has played, has performed well below the level expected of him, especially considering his great 2023, and it is not known in what form he will arrive at Roland Garros.
The beating suffered in the third round of the Rome Masters against Alejandro Tabilo was the straw that broke the camel's back after a very disappointing few months for Djokovic, who has yet to reach a final this year, having played the Australian Open, Indian Wells (where he surprisingly lost to Luca Nardi), Monte Carlo Masters 1000 and the aforementioned Rome ATP 1000.
But what are the main reasons why Novak Djokovic is not performing at the level expected from a legend like him and number 1 in the ATP Rankings? Here are the three reasons that I believe are the key to his slump.
1. The end of Rafael Nadal.
For much of his career, Djokovic was motivated by the presence of his main rival on the circuit, Rafael Nadal, who pushed him to be better in order to beat him in the world's major tournaments. However, once the Serb surpassed Nadal in the number of Grand Slams won in 2023, thus becoming the most successful tennis player of all time, his motivation on the court has dropped drastically.
2. The Next Gen step forward.
Novak Djokovic is not going to last forever. As he moves closer to retirement, the Next Gen talents are getting stronger and stronger. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are leading a generation that is completely losing its fear of facing the world No. 1, and has already been able to beat him in very important finals.
3. The breakdown of your equipment.
Perhaps the third major reason for Novak Djokovic's drop in performance was the breakdown of his coaching staff, which began with the end of his sporting relationship with his now former coach, Goran Ivanisevic. In the end, Djokovic got used to being the best with a team that was perfect for him. Now, faced with a new scenario, it is normal that the Serb's level has dropped so much.

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