As the clay courts of the 2025 Madrid Open beckon, Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, has laid bare his struggles with a rare moment of vulnerability. The 37-year-old Serbian, once the undisputed king of men’s tennis, admitted that his passion for the sport remains intact, but his form this season has left him far from the favorite to lift the trophy in the Spanish capital. Returning to Madrid for the first time since 2022, Djokovic’s introspective comments reveal a champion grappling with physical challenges and a shifting tennis landscape, yet still driven by an enduring love for competition.
Djokovic’s 2025 season has been a shadow of his dominant past. A hamstring tear forced him to retire from the Australian Open semifinals against Alexander Zverev in January, marking a significant setback. His return at the Qatar Open in February ended in a shocking first-round defeat to Matteo Berrettini, 7-6(4), 6-2, his earliest exit at an ATP 500 event in seven years. Earlier, a straight-sets loss to Alejandro Tabilo at the Monte-Carlo Masters, which he described as “horrible,” compounded his woes. Despite reaching the Miami Open final, he fell to Jakub Mensik, prolonging his wait for a 100th ATP title. His sole triumph this year came at the Paris Olympics, where he outclassed Carlos Alcaraz to claim gold, a victory that remains a beacon of hope amid an otherwise turbulent campaign.
Speaking ahead of the Madrid Open, Djokovic addressed the toll of his injuries and the challenge of maintaining peak performance at this stage of his career. “It’s more challenging now to take care of my body,” he confessed, acknowledging the physical demands that have intensified with age. The Serbian, who underwent knee surgery after a meniscus tear at the 2024 French Open, emphasized his efforts to adapt, stating, “I’m trying to improve my game, as everybody else. But my game is not going to change now drastically.” His focus remains on fine-tuning his baseline-heavy style to suit clay’s unique demands, though he admitted the tight schedule leaves little room for recovery.
Despite his struggles, Djokovic’s competitive fire burns bright. Asked about his motivation, especially with rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer now retired, he dismissed suggestions that their absence has dimmed his drive. “Maybe so, but if I’m not motivated, I’m not here,” he told reporters, underscoring his “passion to compete” as the force keeping him on tour. The Madrid Open, where he has won three titles, holds special significance. “I always have very good feelings when I return to Madrid, to Spain,” he said, citing the passionate Spanish crowd and memorable battles against Nadal and Alcaraz. Yet, he tempered expectations, admitting, “I’m always optimistic, but I don’t know if I’m one of the favourites because I’m not having very good results this year.”
The Madrid Open presents a formidable challenge. Djokovic, seeded No. 1, faces a potential second-round clash with either Zizou Bergs or Yoshihito Nishioka, with a blockbuster semifinal against Alcaraz looming. The rise of Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz, who split the 2024 Grand Slams, has shifted the sport’s hierarchy, a reality Djokovic acknowledged. “I’m a bit sad because my greatest rivals have left,” he said, reflecting on the end of the “golden era” defined by Federer, Nadal, and Andy Murray. Yet, his new coaching partnership with Murray, one of his fiercest rivals, has injected fresh inspiration, with Djokovic noting, “He inspires me to see if we can achieve great things.”
As Djokovic steps onto Madrid’s red clay, his season hangs in the balance. The French Open, where he is a three-time champion, looms as a critical test of his resilience. While he hopes his peak form emerges in Madrid, he remains pragmatic, stating, “The level I’m looking for could come here or at Roland Garros.” For now, Djokovic’s journey is one of perseverance, fueled by a champion’s heart and a refusal to fade quietly, even as the odds stack against him.