Will Djokovic beat Alcaraz or Sinner ever again?

[BauerAlmeida]

In the Masters in 2023, Djokovic had a very impressive performance beating the (current) two best players in the world back-to-back in straight sets. 6-3 6-3 vs Sinner and 6-3 6-2 vs Alcaraz. Both were very comfortable wins and totally dominated them. He had also beaten Alcaraz at Roland Garros and Cinci and lost a very close battle at Wimbledon in 5 sets having chances in sets 2 and 5. He had also beaten Sinner at Wimbledon in straights and lost at the Masters as well 7-6 in the third and at Davis Cup having three match points 7-5 in the 3rd. He was losing/winning close matches and winning comfortably in some cases. Very impressive considering the massive age gap.

Fast-forward to this year and he seems to be clearly below them. The sample size is very small, only 2 matches, but both were very sound defeats and came at his best tournament and one of his best.

At the AO he was able to get a set in a tie-break but lost comfortably the other 3, sets 1 and 2 especially. At Wimbledon, he lost two sets very comfortably and only showed some fight in set 3, but it was obviously too late.

Can he regain his 2023 form and beat one of the new Big 2 again? Or at least make it a competitive defeat as was the case in Wimbledon 2023 and the Masters round robin? He's 37 and just had an important surgery, but it was not long ago that he had no trouble being competitive against them.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Already beaten RG champ raz at PC in straight sets

Sinner will fall too.

 

[Djokodalerer31]

Yes, it won't be a habit, but occassionally - yes, when they are not at their 100%! I predict Sinner defeat at 2025 AO in quarter-final to Novak and Novak going all the way winning the title! I predict 2 slams to Alcaraz in 2025, 1 to Djokovic and 1 to Sinner! Djokovic will grab AO, but will struggle at remaining three slams not reaching the final of any of them, Alcaraz will grab RG and USO (i know this sounds like a bold prediction for Raz, but you'll see!) and Sinner will grab Wimbledon!

 

[nolefam_2024]

Yes, it won't be a habit, but occassionally - yes, when they are not at their 100%! I predict Sinner defeat at 2025 AO in quarter-final to Novak and Novak going all the way winning the title!

I hope that happens

 

[Djokodalerer31]

I hope that happens

It will...2025 will be much much better season for Novak than 2024, you'll see! I predict a slam win at AO, couple of masters 1000 and another lesser title of 250/500 level...and every quarter-final reached at grand slams again! Not as good as his haydays, but comparable to all those 2018-2023 seasons...

 

[nolefam_2024]

It will...2025 will be much much better season for Novak than 2024, you'll see! I predict a slam win at AO, couple of masters 1000 and another lesser title of 250/500 level...and every quarter-final reached at grand slams again!

I don't think about master 1000s

2 slams is needed to recover from 2024.

 

[Djokodalerer31]

I don't think about master 1000s

2 slams is needed to recover from 2024.

He will win at least one of those either way if he plays good, there are 9 of them in the calendar and if he is in better shape in 2025 than he was in 2024, then it's kind of inevitable, even with his reduced adjusted schedule...plus i don't think it's realistic to expect Novak to win multiple slams ever again...i'm just being real here...

 

[GoatNo1]

I don't think about master 1000s

2 slams is needed to recover from 2024.

why recover from 2024? as it was a disaster season. OG was as significant for him as any slam and maybe more. it is even on your avatar. and why 2 slams needs? even in his best years i considered a single slam big enough to make a successful season. and i think that his OG got probable more attention than USO23.

i think that even another MC would be a great success for him.

 

[nolefam_2024]

why recover from 2024? as it was a disaster season. OG was as significant for him as any slam and maybe more. it is even on your avatar. and why 2 slams needs? even in his best years i considered a single slam big enough to make a successful season. and i think that his OG got probable more attention than USO23.

i think that even another MC would be a great success for him.

Nope

2024 is his worst season except 2017.

Why 2 slams because he only cares about slams now. In older days he played for ranking and other titles as well.

 

[Tano]

Yes, it won't be a habit, but occassionally - yes, when they are not at their 100%! I predict Sinner defeat at 2025 AO in quarter-final to Novak and Novak going all the way winning the title! I predict 2 slams to Alcaraz in 2025, 1 to Djokovic and 1 to Sinner! Djokovic will grab AO, but will struggle at remaining three slams not reaching the final of any of them, Alcaraz will grab RG and USO (i know this sounds like a bold prediction for Raz, but you'll see!) and Sinner will grab Wimbledon!

Djokovic no longer has a chance of winning against them in best-of-five-set tournaments, but if you want to dream, you're free to do so.

 

[Tano]

Already beaten RG champ raz at PC in straight sets

Sinner will fall too.

Best of three sets, pal.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Best of three sets, pal.

Ridiculous

Nole would have destroyed whatever sets

 

[Tano]

It will...2025 will be much much better season for Novak than 2024, you'll see! I predict a slam win at AO, couple of masters 1000 and another lesser title of 250/500 level...and every quarter-final reached at grand slams again! Not as good as his haydays, but comparable to all those 2018-2023 seasons...

On the contrary, Djokovic will perform at a worse level than he has shown this season; his physical decline is imminent.

 

[Tano]

Ridiculous

Nole would have destroyed whatever sets

I'm sorry, but a 37-year-old tennis player, going on 38, has no chance against rivals who promise to make history in the five-set format.

 

[GoatNo1]

Nope

2024 is his worst season except 2017.

Why 2 slams because he only cares about slams now. In older days he played for ranking and other titles as well.

better than 06 and 10 for sure, maybe 09 too

 

[nolefam_2024]

better than 06 and 10 for sure, maybe 09 too

Yes better than 06

Dude in 09 djokovic had highest hard courts wins of all players forget 09

Even 10 is far better now. Worst year since 2017

 

[nolefam_2024]

2009 Djokovic would be winning at least 2 masters if not 3/4 this year. He would lost a lot but he would win a lot as well.

 

[nolefam_2024]

2009 is not very bad year. 2010 even is better than 2024.

 

[Rovesciarete]

Novak is still strong enough to challenge anybody, more so hard-court!

Much will depend on a serve and it is more likely to happen on a quick surface.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Novak is still strong enough to challenge anybody, more so hard-court!

Much will depend on a serve and it is more likely to happen on a quick surface.

He will win a few I think but sinner is now better player

 

[BauerAlmeida]

He beat both.

I stand corrected. He beat both at a SLAM.

 

[Jav]

Yes, it won't be a habit, but occassionally - yes, when they are not at their 100%! I predict Sinner defeat at 2025 AO in quarter-final to Novak and Novak going all the way winning the title! I predict 2 slams to Alcaraz in 2025, 1 to Djokovic and 1 to Sinner! Djokovic will grab AO, but will struggle at remaining three slams not reaching the final of any of them, Alcaraz will grab RG and USO (i know this sounds like a bold prediction for Raz, but you'll see!) and Sinner will grab Wimbledon!

You got it pretty close

 

[Hitman]

Yes