The Rise and Fall of Novak Djokovic: A 2024 Review
The year 2023 might as well be an old photograph tucked away in a drawer, long forgotten and only occasionally glanced at while searching for something else. Yes, folks, we’re talking about none other than Novak Djokovic, the man who practically had the tennis world in a headlock and was putting it in a sleeper hold as he dominated with three out of four Grand Slam titles! Talk about a power move—like stealing the last slice of pizza at a party and then declaring yourself the pizza king.
A Final at Wimbledon: The Best Grand Slam Performance in 2024
This season, however, has a slightly different tune. The best our dear “Djoko” could muster was a final at Wimbledon, where he faced off against the young gun, Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic lost in three rapid-fire sets: 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 [4]. You know things are getting serious when you can almost hear the crowd collectively gasping at how swiftly these sets were being served. But let’s just say, it didn’t quite end with a fairytale ‘happily ever after’—more like a cheeky meme of an ex trying to look cool in front of their high school crush.
At the Australian Open, the man with an astonishing 24 Grand Slams fell flat in the semi-finals, faced with the sad reality of a knee injury at Roland-Garros where he had to pack his bags early, and just when he thought he’d get a last laugh at the US Open, he waved goodbye in the 3rd round. Honestly, it sounds like Djokovic is trying to set a record for “most disappointing exits in a single tennis season”—congratulations, you’ve just become a member of the tennis version of ‘The Walking Dead!’
And here’s the kicker: that’s right, folks, not a single Grand Slam title to his name this year! No shiny Masters 1000 trophies either—his absolute best performance being a finals appearance in Shanghai. You know it’s serious when even his own accolades start to feel like that embarrassing karaoke video you wish would just disappear from the internet.
But wait! In the whirlwind of 2024, did you know he did manage to snag an Olympic champion title? The golden moment came last August on the hallowed clay courts of Paris as he faced off against Carlos Alcaraz again. This time, Djokovic came out on top with a nail-biting score of 7-6 [3], 7-6 [2]. Finally, a title added to that laundry list of achievements that has more wrinkles than a seasoned pensioner! What can I say? Nothing like the Olympics to give your ego a little boost when the ATP rankings just aren’t doing it for you.
As the curtain falls on 2024, the memories of a triumphant 2023 may feel like a distant past for Novak Djokovic. The Serbian tennis star, who once seemed invincible, dominated the world of tennis last year, clinching three out of four Grand Slam titles and finishing the season with a flourish by winning the prestigious season-ending Masters. However, the latest ATP rankings reveal a significant drop, with Djokovic now languishing in 7th place—a position he has not seen since 2022, raising eyebrows among his fans and critics alike.
A final at Wimbledon as best Grand Slam performance in 2024
In a season filled with ups and downs, Djokovic’s finest moment on the Grand Slam stage came at Wimbledon, where he reached the final but was ultimately defeated by the rising star Carlos Alcaraz in a straight-sets match (6-2, 6-2, 7-6 [4]). Earlier in the year, Djokovic showcased his resilience by making it to the semifinals at the Australian Open, but an unfortunate knee injury forced him to withdraw from the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros. His struggles continued as he exited the US Open in the third round, leaving him without a single Grand Slam title in 2024—a disheartening reality for a player who once held a record 24 Grand Slams.
Between 2018 and 2023, Djokovic enjoyed a remarkable comeback, securing an impressive 12 Grand Slam titles, including four Australian Opens, two French Opens, four Wimbledons, and two US Opens, alongside 10 Masters 1000 titles. Yet, in 2024, amidst the challenges, Djokovic can take pride in having claimed an Olympic gold medal last August, triumphing on the clay courts in Paris against none other than Alcaraz in a gripping final that concluded with a score of 7-6 [3], 7-6 [2]. This coveted title was the last piece missing from his extensive collection of accolades throughout his legendary career.