Roddick's Assessment of Djokovic 2025: Great Players Always Find the Drive to Move Forward

With the 2025 season now behind us, Novak Djokovic’s future in tennis remains a hot topic. The 24-time Grand Slam winner’s performance this year was both striking and frustrating, according to former US Open champion Andy Roddick. Although talks of retirement surfaced, this iconic player’s determination still drives him to challenge the limits of time and physical condition.

At the age of 38, Djokovic’s 2025 campaign was marked by mixed feelings. He reached the semifinals in all four Grand Slams, demonstrating he remains highly competitive. He also captured two ATP 250 titles in Geneva and Athens, and thanks to consistent results, he finished the year ranked fourth in the world. Such achievements would be considered outstanding for any typical player.

However, for Djokovic, this season was far from fully satisfying—he failed to win a single set in the four Grand Slam semifinals and never got close to securing his 25th Grand Slam title, which remains his main late-career goal. The inability to fulfill this dream is a significant regret. More poignantly, the effects of aging are becoming increasingly evident; physical decline has become his biggest obstacle. He withdrew from the Australian Open semifinal due to a hamstring injury and suffered a hip injury in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, later admitting these were caused by long-term wear and tear. These injuries severely impacted his performance in critical matches. Djokovic openly acknowledged that at 38, he can no longer sustain the intense training routines of his past, and he’s uncertain if his body can endure the demanding two-week, five-set Grand Slam format.

On this, Roddick gave a precise evaluation during his personal podcast, stating that Djokovic’s greatness has long transcended the ordinary. Even in a semi-retired state, he remains firmly in the world’s top three—a truly remarkable feat.

“By his career standards, any season without a Grand Slam title is basically disappointing, but this year he still amazed everyone. Playing almost part-time, he remains at the very top level,” Roddick said. Nowadays, people judge stars like Djokovic and Alcaraz by their own peak performances. Alcaraz is now world number one, and any shift in form creates uncertainty for Djokovic’s quest for titles. Combined with his physical decline and the rise of Alcaraz and Sinner at their career peaks, the pressure mounts, and naturally, doubts about Djokovic’s future have increased.

Roddick also pinpointed the core issue: Djokovic has admitted he can no longer train as intensely as when he was younger. The reduction in training intensity directly affects his ability to endure the lengthy Grand Slam schedules. This year, Djokovic himself acknowledged that if he overexerts his body after reaching the semifinals, he cannot guarantee victory. This has fueled speculation about his possible retirement. Nonetheless, no one can underestimate his legendary fighting spirit. Roddick’s podcast co-host Jon Wertheim hit the mark by saying Djokovic actually thrives on this ultimate challenge; he is obsessed with racing against time and refuses to accept the decline brought by aging.

Unlike most who retreat when facing aging and adversity, Djokovic confronts all obstacles head-on. He fully understands the reality of his declining physical condition and the strong emergence of younger players, yet he keeps his hunger for victory alive. As Roddick put it,Great players always find the motivation to keep moving forward—sometimes through self-drive, sometimes inspired by fierce rivals. At this moment, Djokovic’s motivation is to defeat time and push beyond his physical limits.He has now confirmed that his 2026 season will begin with the Adelaide ATP 250 tournament in January, focusing all his efforts on preparing for the Australian Open and aiming for his 25th Grand Slam title.

At 38, well past the typical peak age for tennis players, every appearance by Djokovic is a breakthrough. Yet he never stops moving forward. Retirement rumors may continue to circulate, but as long as his goals remain alive, this legend racing against time will keep writing his own story on the court.

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