5 bold predictions for Novak Djokovic in 2024 ft. Australian Open & Olympics

Novak Djokovic continued to scale one peak after another in the 2023 tennis season. He now has 24 Grand Slams and more than 400 weeks as the No. 1 player in the world to his name. Those numbers could further increase in the coming year, with the 36-year-old Serb showing no signs of slowing down.

On current form, the Serb will be the favorite in any tournament he decides to enter. However, at his age, Djokovic could very well see a dip in fortunes in 2024.

In this article, we make five bold predictions for him in 2024.

#1 Not winning the Australian Open

It seems inconceivable at the moment that Djokovic will lose a match at his most successful Slam. He has won the Australian Open title 10 times, and has not lost a match there since 2018. Hence, the Serb will be the odds-on favorite to win his 25th Grand Slam title in Melbourne in January 2024.

However, the law of averages could well catch up with him. Besides, both Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev are formidable players on slow-medium hardcourt, so either of them might be able to stop Djokovic next year.

#2 Emergence of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune pushing him out of top 3 by end of year

Djokovic has a stranglehold on the No. 1 spot at the moment. But if he were to have an ordinary year in 2024, he could well be outside the top three by its end.

Both Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are on the ascent, and have the potential to topple the Serb and go ahead of him. There is also the presence of Medvedev and budding youngsters like Holger Rune, who also have the ability to upset Djokovic.

#3 Olympic gold still eluding Djokovic

The one glory that has eluded the Serb throughout his illustrious career is an Olympic gold medal.

Djokovic claimed bronze at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and finished fourth in 2012 in London as well as at Tokyo 2020. Given the 36-year-old's current run of form and his mentality, many feel that he will break his Olympic hoodoo in Paris.

However, Djokovic has repeatedly succubmed to the expectations at the event in the past. And given that it is being held on the clay courts of Paris in 2024, Rafael Nadal would likely be a big obstacle this time.

Even if the Spaniard doesn't triumph, the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud are capable of making things difficult for Djokovic at the Olympics.

#4 Focus on Grand Slams making it impossible for the Serb to win any Masters 1000 events

We could see Djokovic compete in almost all the Masters 1000 tournaments in 2024 if he is fit, considering the fact that he will be allowed to participate in Indian Wells and Miami.

The Serb saved his best tennis for the Grand Slams in 2023. He could be aiming to win all four Majors in 2024 and become the first player to win the Calendar Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988.

Keeping this in mind and given the rising competition, there is a chance, albeit not too big, that Djokovic may not win any Masters 1000 titles in 2024.

#5 Losing to Rafael Nadal at least once

With Rafael Nadal's much-anticipated comeback looming, there is a strong possibility of Djokovic meeting him at least once on clay in 2024. Nadal has dominated their head-to-head on clay and could well beat him once more next year.

With the Olympic Games also scheduled to be held on the red clay of Paris, the chances of Nadal beating his arch-rivals at least once increase further.