Is Djokovic facing a 'nemesis' in Athens?

03/11/2025 10:16:00 sport

Novak Djokovic is pursuing his 101st career title at the ATP 250 Hellenic Championship in Athens. Yet, this task might prove difficult right at the start, against an opponent who has never been defeated by him.

Novak Djokovic has not played an official match since the Shanghai Rolex Masters semifinals, where he lost to a brilliant Valentin Vacherot, who then won his first Masters 1000 title. The former world number one also faced some physical issues while competing in China but still took part in the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia for the second time, arriving at the last minute.

There, Djokovic again exited in the semifinals against Jannik Sinner and later withdrew from the third-place playoff after losing the first set to Taylor Fritz. Without improving his form, Nole might face risks in his opening match in Athens. The reason: Djokovic’s first opponent in Athens will be the winner between Adam Walton (a player Djokovic has never met professionally) and Alejandro Tabilo—who has yet to lose to Djokovic in their encounters.

Djokovic could face Tabilo, who has beaten him in both their matches, in Athens.

Specifically, Djokovic lost to Tabilo 2-6, 3-6 in the second round of the 2024 Rome Masters. Nearly a year later, they met again in the second round of the 2025 Monte Carlo Masters and Djokovic lost again 3-6, 4-6. Both matches were played on clay courts, not hard courts. But the real concern is Djokovic’s current form, which is not at its peak, causing experts to question his actual physical condition. Djokovic himself has admitted multiple times that his body is no longer as "trustworthy" as it used to be.

Although he has insisted that his passion for competition remains, Djokovic’s recurring physical problems and apparent lack of motivation clearly worry fans. If he fails to regain his form in Athens, his late-year campaign—including his chances of participating in the ATP Finals—will be highly uncertain.

P.Chi

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