Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has never been one to shy away from long-term goals, even as the twilight of his career approaches. Last year, the Serbian icon admitted that the prospect of defending his Olympic crown at the 2028 Los Angeles Games continues to fuel his competitive fire. “The only thing that, at this moment, professionally speaking, I have in my vision at this point,” Djokovic said, before adding, “the only thing that I have in my head, which gives me motivation, is the Olympics of 2028 in Los Angeles.”

In a recent interview with Corriere TV after his Australian Open campaign, Djokovic was asked whether that Olympic dream still remains intact as he eyes competing at 41. “It’s far away, yes. At this stage of my life and my career, it’s far away, but it’s clear that I have the desire to get there,” Djokovic admitted. He added with a hint of optimism, “Yes, you have to. And in any case, you have to remember that you’re young.”

This isn’t the first time Djokovic has acknowledged LA 2028 as a motivating force, though he has simultaneously tempered expectations. After his run to the 2026 Australian Open final - where he defeated Jannik Sinner before eventually falling to Carlos Alcaraz - the Serb struck an emotional tone while reflecting on what lies ahead. “God knows what happens tomorrow, let alone in six or 12 months, so it has been a great ride - I love you guys,” Djokovic said, leaving the door open regarding his long-term future.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion went on to reiterate that uncertainty has become a defining theme at this stage of his career. “That’s why I left it open. I really don’t know. You’ve followed me for a long time, and I don’t pretend or fake things. I told you for the last year or year and a half that I’m not sure how much and what is next.” While his ambition remains clear, Djokovic acknowledged that maintaining a consistent schedule into his 40s is far from guaranteed.

Expanding further, Djokovic revealed that even his participation levels could fluctuate dramatically. “I said I’d like to play until the 2028 Olympics, but that might mean playing one tournament a year, maybe 10, 15, two, or seven - I honestly don’t know,” he explained. For now, priorities beyond tennis also weigh heavily. “I don’t want to make decisions about my schedule and future so far in advance. Right now, my only wish is to be with my family, and then I’ll see what’s next.”

Djokovic’s Olympic journey has been one of persistence and heartbreak before eventual glory. His first appearance came in Beijing 2008, where he secured a bronze medal after a semifinal defeat to Rafael Nadal. He once again reached the semifinals at London 2012 but narrowly missed the podium after losing the bronze medal match to Juan Martin Del Potro.

The Olympics proved even more challenging in Rio 2016, where Djokovic suffered a shock first-round exit—again at the hands of Del Potro, in straight sets. He came close in Tokyo 2021, finishing fourth after another painful near miss.

However, the elusive dream was finally realized in 2024 when Djokovic captured Olympic gold for Serbia, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final. That crowning achievement not only completed his career resume but also set the stage for a new ambition - one that now sees the veteran balancing the realities of age with the desire to extend his legendary journey all the way to Los Angeles in 2028.

But amid the hot-topic of whether Novak Djokovic will defend his gold medal at the Olympics or not, there is another question that has been creating a lot of buzz recently.

Can Novak Djokovic win his 25th Grand Slam title?

Nothing seems to slow Patrick Mouratoglou down when it comes to bold opinions, and his latest comments about Novak Djokovic have once again set the tennis world buzzing. The former Serena Williams coach recently took to Instagram to explain why, in his view, the 24-time Grand Slam champion is still stuck on the brink of a historic 25th major, pointing not to age or ability, but motivation.

According to Mouratoglou, Djokovic’s biggest battle is no longer against Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, or the rest of the next generation. “The only obstacle preventing Novak from winning Grand Slams is his motivation,” he claimed. “I think he is not motivated enough for the 25th, otherwise, he would have already done it.” Mouratoglou contrasted this with Djokovic’s Olympic run, arguing that the Serb was “over-motivated” for gold and proved it by beating Alcaraz in the final to finally secure the one title missing from his résumé.

The French coach went even further, suggesting that Djokovic’s mindset at Grand Slams has shifted. “He has done everything, his entire life, to achieve his goals. He wanted to become the greatest of all time. He is, without a doubt,” Mouratoglou said. “Every time he arrived at a Grand Slam, he was ready to win. Today, that is no longer the case, so he no longer expects to go all the way.” In his eyes, the hunger that once defined Djokovic’s Slam campaigns simply isn’t as sharp anymore.

However, Mouratoglou was quick to dismiss age and tennis ability as limiting factors. “It is neither a question of age nor a question of tennis. It is a question of physical condition,” he explained. While acknowledging that Djokovic doesn’t recover like he used to, Mouratoglou insisted that with proper preparation, the Serb can still navigate early rounds comfortably and reach the business end of majors.

Where even his critics tend to agree is that Djokovic has a mental edge. “Novak is the strongest mentally in all of history,” Mouratoglou admitted. “If he wants something, even if the level is up there and he is below, he will rise to it.” For the Frenchman, the equation remains simple: if Djokovic truly wants that 25th Slam, he already has all the tools to make it happen.

These comments, however, didn’t emerge in isolation. Mouratoglou had already stirred controversy earlier after Djokovic defeated Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open. While many saw that win as proof that the old guard can still outplay the new, Mouratoglou disagreed. He argued that Sinner, in pure tennis terms, was superior - moving faster, hitting harder, and serving better - but lost because Djokovic won the biggest points. “Novak is not a better tennis player than Sinner,” Mouratoglou claimed, “but he’s the biggest competitor in history.”

Unsurprisingly, that take didn’t sit well with several legends of the sport. Boris Becker, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray all pushed back against the idea that Djokovic lacks standout qualities compared to Alcaraz and Sinner. The debate then drew in another iconic voice—Rick Macci.

Serena Williams’ childhood coach took to X to respond after being asked about Mouratoglou “doubling down” on his stance. “Everything in life is in the eye of the beholder,” Macci wrote. “The Joker does everything outstanding and more. What you may see is very different than Rick Macci.” His message was clear: dismissing Djokovic’s greatness, even subtly, ignores what has made him one of the most dominant athletes in sports history.

So, can Novak Djokovic win his 25th Grand Slam title? Despite being more than a decade older than most of the top 10, he remains one of the very few players capable of going toe-to-toe with Alcaraz and Sinner on the biggest stages. Whether it ultimately comes down to motivation, as Mouratoglou suggests, or simply timing and health, one thing is undeniable - writing off Novak Djokovic has rarely ended well for the rest of the tennis world.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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