Why Novak Djokovic Is Still Among the Best in Tennis at Nearly 38
Novak Djokovic turns 38 in May, but the Serbian tennis star is still one of the best in the world. He won his first Grand Slam title over 17 years ago and, even now, remains in the top five of the ATP Rankings.
Although he didn’t win a Grand Slam title in 2024 and had to retire injured at the Australian Open in January, Djokovic’s record over the past decade has been outstanding. He has won 12 of his 24 Grand Slam titles since turning 30 in 2017.
These victories include four Australian Open titles, four in a row at Wimbledon, two at the French Open, and two US Open titles. In 2023, the year he turned 36, Djokovic won 27 of his 28 Grand Slam matches. And back in 2021, when he was 34, he came close to winning all four majors in the same year.
Djokovic was once known for his incredible movement and physical strength, which helped him win long rallies against top players like Rafael Nadal. But now, some believe his success comes from a different approach.
Former world number six, Gilles Simon, who lost 11 of 12 matches against Djokovic, recently spoke about how Djokovic has changed his game with age.
Simon told Tennis365, “He’s serving better and better because he needs more free points. He can’t keep up the same high level across five sets like he used to. Before, he could go all out from the first to the last point – now, he chooses when to push.”
Simon explained that Djokovic no longer plays long rallies all the time. Instead, he sometimes plays shorter points, serves more aggressively, and picks key moments to attack.
“Even when he won the French Open or Wimbledon, there was often one set where he slowed down to recover – something he never used to do,” Simon said. “It’s a smart change. He knows how to manage his energy now.”
Djokovic is currently the only man over 30 ranked in the ATP top 10 and one of just two players over 30 in the top 30 overall – the other being 33-year-old Grigor Dimitrov.
Despite recent injuries and missing out on the last five Grand Slam titles, Simon believes Djokovic will stay competitive because of his intelligence and experience.
“He’s really smart. He understands his body and knows when to attack and when to hold back. That’s what makes him so good, even now,” Simon added.
