'Even if your name is Novak Djokovic...': Former World No 1 on why Djokovic may need help to win 25th Grand Slam

Novak Djokovic has been trying to win his 25th Grand Slam for the past couple of years. His last Grand Slam came at the 2023 US Open, but since then, he hasn’t been at his best and failed to make history on multiple occasions. However, former world No. 1 Mats Wilander believes the Serbian legend might need “a little help” if he wants to win the title this time.

Djokovic is just one title away from surpassing the world record of 24 major wins held by Margaret Court. He has reached the semi-finals of all three Grand Slams this year but has failed to cross the finish line. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have taken control of men’s tennis and are keeping Djokovic from breaking the record. They have won all three Grand Slams between them this year.

Wilander’s advise for Djokovic 

Wilander believes that Djokovic’s path to another title is tough because of Sinner and Alcaraz on the tour. He said that the 38-year-old may need a little help from other players in the competition to knock out one of the two, making his way to the 25th title a bit easier.

“Looking at the last matches that he’s played against Sinner and Alcaraz, I think he may need some help to win that 25th Grand Slam,” Wilander told Eurosport.

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“I think we need something to happen to them, to at least one of them, because to beat Sinner, and then to beat Alcaraz and having to beat someone like Jack Draper maybe before… that’s tough for any player, even if your name is Novak Djokovic. So I do think that he does need a little bit of help from the other guys. He doesn’t need much, but he needs a little help to take out one of the big two,” he added.

Djokovic will begin his 2025 US Open campaign against Learner Tien in the first round on August 25. Meanwhile, Sinner will play his opening game against Vit Kopriva, and Alcaraz will face Reilly Opelka.