The German thinks Djokovic must avoid expending excess energy in early matches at majors so the Serbian can have his “full powers” for a potential showdown with Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic‘s 24th and most recent Grand Slam victory was at the 2023 US Open, where he overcame Daniil Medvedev in the championship match.
During a stellar 2023 season, Djokovic also won the Australian Open and the French Open, while he narrowly lost to Alcaraz in an epic five-set Wimbledon final.
After winning seven tournaments in 2023, Djokovic’s only title of 2024 was his gold medal triumph at the Paris Olympics. The 37-year-old delivered a remarkable display to down Carlos Alcaraz in a pulsating gold medal match in August.
At the majors this year, Djokovic was a semi-finalist at the Australian Open, a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros (where he withdrew through injury), and a runner-up at Wimbledon, before he suffered a shock third round exit at the US Open.
On the latest episode of the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, Petkovic gave her verdict on Djokovic’s quest to extend his lead as the Grand Slam title record holder.
“I think for him to achieve that extra title, which I think he can definitely, he needs to be a bit lucky. He needs to be lucky in the first week to contain energy. He needs to have a draw where he cruises,” the former world No 9 said.
“He will be fit, he will be at 100%, he will come from off-season, he will have trained amazingly and he will have Andy Murray in his box. And so all the negative energy will be trapped in the players’ box, not on the court, in the persona of Andy Murray (laughs).
“I think he just needs to get a little lucky in the first week so he contains energy in a sense that he cruises through the first four rounds, I’d say.
“And then can focus on, because he might play an Alcaraz, might play a Sinner or whoever, and then has his full powers there.”
As the current world No 7, Djokovic will be seeded seventh at the 2025 Australian Open barring any withdrawals.
This means the tennis icon could face any of the top four players in the ATP Rankings as early as the quarter-finals.
Sinner (1), Alexander Zverev (2), Alcaraz (3) and Taylor Fritz (4) are possible last eight opponents for Djokovic at the Melbourne major.
Before chasing a record-extending 11th Australian Open crown, Djokovic will begin the new season at the ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane.
