“And I bet you that he will be very dangerous again in 2025,” is what renowned tennis expert Benoit Maylin predicted about Novak Djokovic. It has been a while since the Serb is keeping himself out of the scenes. While his absence from ATP Finals might have been a hard truth to accept for the fans, many believe that it provided an edge to players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Amid the ongoing year-end final event, the young Spaniard recently made a confession that is worth giving a check.

Carlos Alcaraz recently shared his thoughts on Novak Djokovic’s return to tennis. Djokovic is gearing up for the Australian Open 2025 after missing recent tournaments due to injury. Alcaraz praised Djokovic’s remarkable ability to compete at the highest level, regardless of time away from the court. “A really dangerous player,” Alcaraz said with a smile. “He deserves to choose what tournaments he’s going to play. We’ve seen before that it doesn’t matter that he doesn’t play an official match for two, three, four months because he’s going to come again and be able to win the tournament, be able to show a really high level of tennis.”

Alcaraz highlighted that Djokovic’s hunger for victory will be crucial in Australia. “If he goes to Australia with hungry, is going to be one of the favorites to win Australia. Let’s see. He’s going to be fresh, for sure. A lot of time with his family, kids, wife. Have time to practice a lot, which is pretty good for a tennis player coming to a tournament with motivations. Is going to be a fun player to watch, for sure.”

Djokovic withdrew from the ATP Finals and the Paris Masters due to an injury. The 37-year-old announced his decision on Instagram, expressing regret. “I was really looking forward to being there, but due to ongoing injury I won’t be playing next week,” Djokovic wrote. “Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon!”

Djokovic’s absence ended his 2024 season with a record of 37-9 matches. He had notable achievements this year. He secured his first Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games in August, completing his career Golden Slam. With 99 career titles, Djokovic remains one of the most dominant forces in tennis, eager to launch a comeback in 2025.

Tennis expert backs Novak Djokovic against hateful comments 

Renowned French tennis pundit Benoit Maylin has dismissed doubts about Novak Djokovic’s ability to win more Grand Slam titles. Djokovic has slipped out of the top five in the ATP Rankings and faces stiff competition from younger players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. However, Maylin believes it is a mistake to underestimate the 37-year-old. “The guy is burned out, no longer motivated. He won’t even win a Grand Slam anymore. Stop. We’re talking about Novak,” Maylin stated in a video with Sans Filet. He reminded fans of Djokovic’s extraordinary performance in 2023, where he won three of the four Grand Slam titles and the ATP Finals. “He was monstrous in winning three of the four Grand Slams plus the Masters, which he hadn’t managed to do since 2015.”

Maylin attributed Djokovic’s recent absence to emotional exhaustion after his Olympic gold medal win in Paris. Djokovic underwent knee surgery earlier in the year but fought hard to achieve the career-defining Olympic title he had been chasing since 2008. “This Olympic title drained him emotionally. He needed to recharge his batteries,” Maylin explained. With his 38th birthday approaching in May, Djokovic is fully aware of his limited time at the top. According to Maylin, Djokovic’s current break is a strategic move to return refreshed and motivated for the next season.