Novak Djokovic has ruled the ATP Tour for two decades now. He started slow, with the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal already ruling the roost. It was a duopoly that few expected to be disrupted.

When Djokovic began making waves, he was initially considered an outlier, someone who had the quality to win the odd big title but not at the level to challenge Federer and Nadal. And the Serbian proved them wrong — and how!

Fourteen years ago, in 2010, Rafael Nadal won three of the four Grand Slams, with Roger Federer reigning supreme in Australia. The two were playing at their best and fans were sure that their rivalry would dominate tennis for years to come.

Novak Djokovic, however, had different plans. In 2011, he won ten titles, including three Grand Slam wins and five Masters 1000s. He ended the year with a 6-0 record against Nadal and a 4-1 record against Federer.

Thus began the reign of the Djoker, one who crashed Nadal and Federer’s party and enjoyed doing so. While there have been many reasons why fans initially did not take to Djokovic, this was a big one. He came, he saw a duopoly and he played spoilsport with a smile on his face and ferocity in his tennis.

In the next three years until the 2014 Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic won just two Majors while finishing as the runner-up twice. In the same period, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal matched, if not bettered, the Serb’s performances.

Meanwhile, Andy Murray emerged into the scene, winning his first Grand Slam at Djokovic’s expense at the 2012 US Open. It was a hard-fought final in New York, with the Brit coming out on top after a grueling four hours and 54 minutes contest.

If doubts began to emerge on what level Djokovic could reach, he answered his critics in an impressive fashion in 2015. He won three Grand Slams, finished as the runner-up in the one he didn’t win, won a record six Masters 1000s, and emerged victorious at the ATP World Tour Finals.

It was not all straightforward for the Belgrade native, however. He worked hard to better himself, both on and off the court.

The 37-year-old worked on the mental side of his game, and it was clearly seen in his contest with Nadal, where he went toe-to-toe with him by playing long, grinding rallies. Those contests were not easy on the body, but they showed a change in Djokovic’s mentality — and made for spectacular viewing.

There was a change in his diet, something that has been well-documented over the years. In 2010, a Serbian doctor by the name of Igor Cetojevic, a nutritionist, figured out that Djokovic had gluten intolerance. Djokovic adapted to a gluten-free diet and the proof, as they say, was in the pudding. He acknowledged the same in his 2014 book, Serve to Win, where he talked about it being an ‘x factor’ in his life.

On the court, he worked on his serve, and what was once seen as his weakness soon became something he could bank on when required. The serve-and-volley style, which he probably mastered during his time under Boris Becker, gave him another big weapon on the court.

What Djokovic has managed to achieve since then has been extensively studied and covered. A record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record 10 Australian Open wins, a record 40 Masters 1000s, a record seven year-end championships, a record total of 428 weeks as the World No. 1 — the list is endless.

2024, a blip on the radar or the beginning of the end?

While fans have enjoyed watching the Big 3 of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic over the years, the trio have spoken many times about how they pushed each other to achieve incredible things in the sport. Competition breeds excellence, as the old saying goes.

But no one is immune from aging. Federer, troubled with injuries, bowed out first at the 2022 Laver Cup. This year, Nadal, having also struggled with injuries, finally hung up his racket. And Djokovic? Well, he hasn’t been as troubled by injuries as the other two, at least not to public knowledge. However, that also doesn’t mean he has been at his best on the court.

In 2023, he won three Majors and came close to achieving a Calander Grand Slam, only to be thwarted by Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller at Wimbledon. On the back of that incredible year, a lot was expected of him this season.

However, Djokovic, for maybe the first time in many many years, has looked more human than ever. The invincible aura was seemingly gone and he did not look to have the drive that kept him on the hunt all these years.

Case in point, the Olympics. A gold in the quadrennial event was the only thing missing in his trophy cabinet and he played with the kind of desire that was barely seen all year. Weeks after Alcaraz schooled him at Wimbledon, he got the better of the Spanish youngster and the celebrations after, which understandably continued for many weeks, said it all.

With Federer and Nadal having exited stage left and having achieved almost everything there is to offer, Djokovic’s hunger will not be the same anymore. That is not an established fact but an educated guess.

One-upping Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer

Getting the better of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer saw Novak Djokovic build one of the greatest legacies in the sport. Now, he has the opportunity to get the better of them one last time.

Federer and Nadal limped over the finish line, with bodies struggling to keep up and their dominance well and truly wiped away. Djokovic, however, will want to do the opposite.

The Serbian will want one final, title-laden season on the ATP Tour before calling it a day and he is doing everything he can to achieve that. Having parted ways with his long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this year, he surprised everyone, including those who have followed his career religiously, by hiring Andy Murray as his coach, if only on a temporary basis. Only time will tell the logic behind that move, but it is unexpected and already has everyone buzzing.

Djokovic is also not someone who likes to share his records, and he currently is tied with Margaret Court for most Grand Slam titles in tennis history. Yes, most of Court’s titles were won before the Open Era, but in the grand scheme of things, she sits level with Djokovic.

Righting that stat and going out on his terms will be on Djokovic’s mind in 2025. And he is going to achieve that, or retire trying.