Few athletes have left a greater impact on tennis than Novak Djokovic. The Serbian icon is arguably one of the greatest players of all time and still has plenty left in the tank to add to his already historic legacy.
However, after sustaining a hamstring injury at the Australian Open, Djokovic now faces the possibility of a major rankings drop, which could complicate his path to a 25th Grand Slam title.
Currently ranked sixth in the ATP standings, Djokovic is could miss several key tournaments.
This could allow Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur, and Tommy Paul to overtake him, pushing him further down the rankings.
A drop outside the top eight would significantly impact his tournament draws, forcing him to face higher-seeded players earlier in Grand Slams and ATP events.
A strong start derailed by injury
Djokovic entered 2025 with hopes of winning his 25th Grand Slam title and securing an 11th Australian Open trophy. He looked in fine form, delivering strong performances, including an impressive four-set victory over Carlos Alcarazin the quarter-finals.
However, in his semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev, Djokovic was forced to retire after the first set due to injury.
The setback means Djokovic will need time to recover, and missing out on key tournaments could further affect his ranking and seeding for future events.
Boos at the Australian Open spark backlash
Novak Djokovic
Djokovic’s withdrawal from the semi-final was a disappointment for fans, as it was shaping up to be a thrilling battle against Zverev. However, what shocked many was the crowd’s reaction, as the 37-year-old was booed while retiring from the match.
Sky Sports pundit Tim Henman strongly condemned the behaviour, calling it “indefensible.”
“For someone going for their 11th Australian Open title and their 25th Slam, to be the leader in the game’s history, he’s clearly in a bad way if he has pulled out after a set. For him to be booed in that moment was indefensible.”
Henman also acknowledged that Djokovic has always sought the same affection as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, but his dominance and personality have divided opinions.
“Some people don’t like how he behaves sometimes, but you look at what he has achieved in the game and every statistic; he is the best in the men’s game. I find it difficult to debate that.”
A legacy that speaks for itself
Despite this setback, Djokovic’s career achievements remain unmatched:
- 24 Grand Slam titles
- Most weeks as world No. 1 in ATP history
- Most Masters 1000 titles
Now, the focus shifts to his recovery and return to the tour. The question remains—how will Djokovic respond to this challenge, and can he reclaim his position at the top of the rankings?
His comeback will be one of the biggest storylines of 2025, and tennis fans will be watching closely to see if he can overcome this setback and continue his pursuit of history.
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