Stadiums often resemble kangaroo courts, notorious for swift and sometimes harsh judgments. Fans, acting as instant opinion-makers, assume the roles of both judge and jury. Thus, following Novak Djokovic’s loss to 22-year-old Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semifinal last weekend, a swift verdict was rendered. Many declared that the greatest tennis player of all time, at 36, had passed his prime; the younger generation had finally caught up, signaling the end of the Djokovic era.
Even Djokovic himself dubbed the match against Sinner as his “worst Grand Slam performance ever.” The statistics seemed to confirm this sentiment. Known for his precise play, Djokovic committed an unusually high 54 unforced errors. Furthermore, despite being renowned as one of the best returners in tennis history, he failed to create a single break point against Sinner’s serve. Undoubtedly, it marked one of the bleakest days in Djokovic’s illustrious career.
Fortunately, the timeless champion of her era, Martina Navratilova, offered a rational perspective to contextualize Djokovic’s shaken statement following his surprising defeat. “When you get older, the bad days become more pronounced,” she wisely noted. After all, whether one is considered the greatest of all time or an average nine-to-five worker, experiencing a rough day at the office is a universal phenomenon. With her extensive experience spanning numerous highs and lows in tennis, Navratilova refrained from prematurely jumping to conclusions. Instead, she normalized the latest significant upset in tennis, a recurring theme at Grand Slam events throughout the years.
Djokovic himself had to confront the inevitable “age question.” Press conferences often tread carefully when addressing superstar athletes in their mid-30s who have suffered defeat at the hands of younger competitors. In Melbourne, during the latter part of the media session, an Australian reporter, not typically covering tennis, boldly broached the subject with the Serbian, who is also a father to a nine-year-old son. As journalists scribbled notes, all eyes turned to Djokovic, anticipating his reaction. Would he react angrily, have a breakdown, or deliver a clever dismissal? To their surprise, Djokovic offered a response that made headlines. “I hope not, but I don’t know; only time will tell,” he calmly replied.
Was this an admission of the impending challenge of age catching up to him, or yet another instance of Djokovic’s strategic mind games? The fiercely competitive champion has a history of strategically timing injury breaks during crucial matches. Throughout his career, particularly when facing a formidable opponent who appears to be dominating, Djokovic has been known to suddenly display signs of discomfort, lodging complaints with the chair umpire about unspecified pains or strains. This tactic often lures his rivals into a false sense of confidence, causing them to lose focus and prematurely envision an easy victory, complete with accolades and trophies.
Without fail, following the break, there would be a shift in momentum. The cunning Serb, seemingly rejuvenated and moving with the agility of a gazelle, would proceed to clinch the match.
In a sport filled with countless uncertainties, predicting Djokovic’s fate is a challenging task. However, the wise bet will always be on the seasoned survivor enduring yet another storm. Just last year, 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz had swept him off the Wimbledon turf. Even then, spectators were quick to declare it as the “beginning of the end.” On that day, Djokovic gracefully acknowledged his defeat and praised the young champion. However, behind the scenes, he swiftly transitioned into beast mode.
Months later, when asked about Djokovic’s mood during the first training session after the loss to Alcaraz, his coach, the legendary Goran Ivanisevic, was queried by a reporter if Djokovic was cranky. Ivanisevic chuckled before responding, “He’s always cranky during training.” Djokovic himself has admitted that in order to keep pace with the relentless pursuit of younger players, he must constantly reinvent his game, month by month, week by week.
Within months of his defeat to Alcaraz, Djokovic would go on to defeat him at the Cincinnati Masters. With a roar reminiscent of a lion, tearing his shirt in triumph, Djokovic sent a clear message to the world: the Djokovic saga was far from over. Even as you read this, somewhere across the globe, a determined Djokovic and the sage Ivanisevic are likely plotting Sinner’s downfall.
While it might be premature and imprudent to label him as a player in decline, there have been subtle shifts in Djokovic. He no longer embodies the same intensity off the court as he did in the past. During the era dominated by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Djokovic was often seen as the “unloved” and “uncheered” No.3 of the Big 3. He harbored bitterness, was fiercely driven, and had a burning desire to dethrone his rivals from the podium and surpass them in the historic race for Grand Slam titles.
Having accomplished those monumental feats, Djokovic now appears more at ease. Gone are the days of smashing racquets or engaging in confrontations with umpires. Reflecting on this shift, Djokovic remarked, “I have tried not to be too harsh on myself because I was earlier in my career. I was my own harshest critic,” he stated at the conclusion of last year.
These days, Djokovic finds himself on friendly terms with his younger rivals, and as an aging champion, he has also endeared himself to the crowds. Perhaps, the loss at the Australian Open will reignite his fire, resurrect that old sense of anger, and evoke in him the same determination he felt towards Federer and Nadal when facing opponents like Sinner and Alcaraz.
It wouldn’t be a difficult adjustment for Djokovic, who, since his earliest days on the tennis court, has embraced the philosophy of being prepared for every circumstance. Growing up in Belgrade during the tumultuous 1990s, amidst Yugoslavia’s violent disintegration, ethnic conflicts, loss of lives, and mass migrations, young Novak pursued his passion for tennis despite the backdrop of screaming NATO fighter planes overhead. Every day, his childhood coach, Jelena Gencic, would carefully assess the bombing targets to determine which courts her prized student would train on.
Jelena Gencic once shared a heartwarming tale about Novak Djokovic’s introduction to tennis at the tender age of six. One morning, she noticed a young boy attentively watching other children play from beyond the fence surrounding the court. She informed him that if he desired to play, he could join them in the afternoon. True to her word, Djokovic returned later, hauling a hefty kit bag over his small shoulders.
Recalling his first day on the court, Gencic reminisced about Djokovic carrying a racquet, towel, water bottle, spare T-shirt, wristband, cap, and a solitary banana.
“Did your mother pack your bag for you?” she inquired. The boy, with an innocent yet determined expression, retorted, “No, I’m here to play tennis.” At 36, Djokovic continues to play tennis like no one before him. Only the bold or the dismissive would dare to underestimate him.
