Serbian tennis legend, Novak Djokovic, has set his sights on a strong comeback as he gears up for the 2025 season, vowing to continue competing for years to come.
Speaking on Sunday, the 37-year-old revealed plans for a busier tournament schedule as he targets a return to the top of the tennis rankings, challenging the new wave of talent led by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic, who endured a below-par 2024 season by his lofty standards, missed out on any Grand Slam titles and secured just one trophy—Olympic gold in Paris.
Now ranked seventh in the world, the 24-time Grand Slam champion is determined to reclaim his place among the elite.
“I’m looking for a good start to the season, I’m looking for more consistency across all the tournaments,” Djokovic shared as he prepared for his campaign at the Brisbane International. “I’m looking to play more tournaments this year than I played last season, so hopefully also my level is going to go up. Hopefully, I will win a few more tournaments and my ranking will go up to where it should be.”
This season marks a significant shift in the tennis landscape, with Djokovic standing as the last member of the famed “Big Four” still active on the ATP Tour.
The retirements of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray in 2024, following Roger Federer’s farewell in 2022, have paved the way for a new generation of stars like Sinner and Alcaraz to seize the Grand Slam spotlight.
Despite turning 38 in May, Djokovic remains resolute in his ambitions, eyeing a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam crown in Melbourne next month. Retirement, he insists, is not on the horizon.
“The way I’m feeling today, I still think that I can go strong for years to come,” he said. “But how long I’m going to feel motivated to keep going is unpredictable. I still love this sport and I still love competing.”
Djokovic begins his 2025 campaign against Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata in Brisbane, marking his first official match since his Shanghai Masters final loss to Sinner in October.
Additionally, fans will see Djokovic team up with Nick Kyrgios in doubles, as the Australian makes his return to competitive tennis after battling knee, foot, and wrist injuries for nearly two years.
