Over his legendary tennis career, it has always been foolish to write off 24-time Grand Slam title winner Novak Djokovic.
But as seen with Rafael Nadal over the past couple of years – father time comes for all athletes at some stage and can strike without warning.
Djokovic’s career looks another step closer to retirement after a straight sets loss to world no.293 Reilly Opelka in the quarter-finals at the Brisbane International on Friday.
The Serbian had no answers to the serving power of 211cm Opelka, who didn’t drop a service game and hit 16 aces on the way to a 7-6(6) 6-3 win.
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It must be said that Opelka has been ranked as high as 17 in 2022, but chronic injuries have kept him out of the sport for much of the past two years.
But shock defeats are becoming more regular for Djokovic as he approaches 38 years of age in May.
Rising Aussie talent Alexei Popyrin knocked Djokovic out of the US Open in the third round, and he was also defeated by Alex de Minaur (United Cup), Luca Nardi (Indian Wells), Alejandro Tabilo (Italian Open) and Tomas Machac (Geneva).
In 2024, Djokovic failed to win an ATP or Grand Slam title for the first time since 2005 – with his extraordinary Olympic gold medal triumph in Paris saving his season from being without silverware.
Whether he is struggling as he gets older or has some kind of injury – it’s hard to see Djokovic being a contender at the Australian Open, starting Janaury 12.
With his ranking dropping to world no.7, the tennis icon will be seeded that same number when he begins his quest for an 11th title at Melbourne Park.
Djokovic will be among a group of players seeded 5-8, with one placed in each quarter of the draw, and is on a collision course to face a player seeded 1-4 in the quarter-finals.
If he manages to win the Australian Open for an 11th time, it will be one of the most extraordinary achievements of his career after the last 12 months of slow decline.
