Djokovic is advised to skip the most prestigious tournament due to harsh realities

Novak Djokovic is currently 38 and must strategize meticulously to secure his 25th Grand Slam victory.

Djokovic started the 2026 season impressively by reaching the 38th Grand Slam final of his career, marking his 11th appearance in the Australian Open final. Although he didn’t win at Melbourne Park, the Serbian player’s performance continued to demonstrate the remarkable endurance of a legend approaching 39 years old.

At this year's "Happy Slam," Djokovic defeated Jannik Sinner in the semifinals but lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the final despite winning the first set. This defeat cost him the chance to win his 25th Grand Slam title, yet it reaffirmed his status as one of the most consistent players in major tournaments.

However, former world No. 4 Greg Rusedski believes Djokovic should make a bold scheduling decision to maximize his chances of winning more Grand Slams. According to Rusedski, Roland Garros – the grueling clay-court event – might be out of reach for Nole at this stage, especially as he will turn 39 this coming May.

Instead, Rusedski advises Djokovic to follow the path Roger Federer took between 2016 and 2018: skipping Roland Garros to focus all his energy and preparation on Wimbledon. "Like Roger, Novak should skip the challenging clay-court Grand Slam and concentrate all his efforts on Wimbledon.", the former British No. 4 commented.

Wimbledon holds special significance for Djokovic, where he has won seven titles and is eager to secure an eighth to match Federer's record at the All England Club. In recent years, the Serbian has lost two consecutive Wimbledon finals to Carlos Alcaraz (2023 and 2024), before being eliminated in the semifinals last year by Jannik Sinner.

According to Rusedski, the grass surface suits Nole better in the latter stages of his career due to shorter rallies, lower physical demands compared to clay, and the ability to capitalize on precise serving.

"If he plays as well as he did at the Australian Open and carries that form to Wimbledon, Djokovic has a genuine chance to win.", Rusedski stated. "For physical reasons, I believe Roland Garros is beyond his reach. I wouldn't be surprised if Djokovic skips Paris and aims straight for the Wimbledon title."