The Big Problem Djokovic Faces in the Coming Months

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 4 Feb 2025 | 17.15

Novak Djokovic, serious problem. Photo: gettyimages

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Many wonder how long Novak Djokovic will be able to hold on in the elite if injuries continue to recur. What is clear is that the short-term outlook for the Serbian is not encouraging. While he recovers from his muscle injury, the rest of his competitors gain confidence and points, putting him in a tight spot in terms of the ATP ranking, something that will influence his return to the courts.

His words at the end of the 2025 Australian Open were as alarming as the MRI result he shared days later to show the world that his injury was real and of considerable extent. Novak Djokovic has seen how this issue not only prevented him from competing for glory until the end in Melbourne but also deprived him of participating in the 2025 Davis Cup, a priority objective for him from which he has now bid farewell. But the worst may be yet to come.

- If Djokovic does not play until the clay court season, he may suffer a major drop in the ATP ranking

Many voices warn that the Serbian's muscle problem is significant and that recovery in less than a month and a half or two months is impossible. Former tennis players Andrea Petkovic and Rennae Stubbs expressed this on TheTennisGazzette, setting deadlines corroborated by medical professionals. Although Novak is known for shortening recovery times and achieving miraculous comebacks, it seems very difficult for him to compete in Doha, Indian Wells, and Miami, his upcoming events in the calendar.

It would not be unreasonable for the Balkan player to be conservative in his recovery and not rush to compete in these events. Instead, he could focus on regrouping safely and shift his attention to the clay court season. This reasonable and cautious decision could have devastating consequences for his ATP ranking.

- Novak only defends 50 points in Indian Wells, but his competitors can earn many points

Currently, he is in the sixth position of the world rankings, but if he does not compete until the Monte Carlo tournament or any other clay court event, numerous players could surpass him, leading to a drop in his ranking. Although the ranking is not the most important thing for Djokovic at this stage of his career, showing up at each tournament with the best guarantees to win is crucial. If he falls beyond the top-10, he will have to face top rivals from the early rounds, making his path much more challenging.

- Djokovic's goal should be to reach the top 12 in the ATP ranking for Roland Garros 2025 to avoid facing the best players in the round of 16

Novak Djokovic's next top priority is Roland Garros 2025, and it would be very beneficial for him to enter that event with the highest possible ranking. If he enters the clay court season outside the top 12 in the world, he will likely face one of the current top players in the round of 16. His aspiration to climb up the rankings and reach the French Grand Slam in a better position could significantly complicate if this were to happen.

It is evident that the issue is reciprocal, as it has already been clear that Djokovic is a formidable opponent for anyone, and facing him in the quarterfinals or round of 16 would be a significant challenge for the top players. It will be interesting to see if Novak Djokovic can return to competition as soon as possible and mitigate a potential drop in the ATP ranking that could have significant consequences in the tennis world.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El gran problema al que se enfrenta Djokovic en los próximos meses