It’s been confirmed that Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic will begin his 2025 tennis season in Australia. The former world number one is currently ranked seventh in men’s singles lists, but he continues to prove he is a match for any opponent.
It’s clear that Djokovic has his sights set on the Australian Open and he will warm up for the first Grand Slam by taking part in the Brisbane International which starts on December 29th. Throughout 2025, the Serb has four chances to extend his record of 24 career Grand Slams, but, according to betting app odds, what are the chances of adding to that incredible run?
Destination Australia
Djokovic’s stubborn stance saw him excluded from Australian competitions in the past, but he is set to line up for the 2025 Australian Open which gets underway on January 12th. The surface and conditions in Melbourne clearly suit him as this is the tournament that he’s won more than any other Grand Slam. No fewer than ten previous victories in the men’s singles section mean that betting apps show the Serb among the favorites for victory, with odds reflecting his dominance on this stage. Punters are also analyzing potential upsets, considering rising stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, whose form could challenge Djokovic’s quest for an 11th title. A slide down the rankings means that others are catching up, but can Djokovic continue to look ahead to a record-breaking year?
We will start to get answers when the Serb competes in Brisbane ahead of the main event, but what are the chances of Novak Djokovic adding to his 24 Grand Slams this year?
Biggest Challenges
The betting apps reveal the biggest challenges to Djokovic’s aim of winning a 25th career Grand Slam. At the Australian Open, Jannik Sinner is the market leader, followed by Carlos Alcaraz, while Novak Djokovic slots in as the third favorite.
Sinner will head to Melbourne as the defending champion, having beaten Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller a year ago. As a recent World Number One, Alcaraz won both the Wimbledon men’s singles title and the French Open earlier in 2024.
Sinner and Alcaraz will also offer a challenge for the remaining Grand Slams. Italy’s Sinner added the US Open to his trophy cabinet in September and betting apps will likely show him to be the favorite to retain his title.
One possible hope for all contenders at the French Open is the absence of Rafael Nadal. The man who won more French Open men’s singles titles than any other player has finally retired, leaving space for others to take over. Once again, the betting apps indicate that Djokovic is highly rated for Roland Garros, but he faces stiff competition.
Favored Events
Djokovic has won each of the four Grand Slams at some stage in his career, but the Australian Open is clearly his favored event. As we’ve seen, he’s won this tournament on ten occasions and for those who believe his career is in decline, it’s worth noting that his tenth title came as recently as 2023.
His performance in Brisbane at the start of 2025 will offer an indication of his current form and whether he is worth backing in those men’s singles markets.
After Australia, there is a long wait until the second Grand Slam of the season. The French Open may be considered as Djokovic’s weakest event, but he has still lifted the trophy on three occasions.
From France, the players will move to London and the Wimbledon Championships. This is another strong tournament for Novak Djokovic who has won in SW17 seven times between 2011 and 2022.
The final Grand Slam tournament of the season takes place in America with the annual running of the US Open. In the men’s singles section, Djokovic has won four times with his most recent success coming in 2023.
At the end of 2024, there were signs that Novak Djokovic was returning to full fitness, but there will be some serious challenges among the chasing pack.
While his greatest rivals, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray have all retired, the young players are finally coming through. Others who are likely to provide a challenge to Djokovic next year include Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, and Alex de Minaur.
Tennis is a far more open sport as it heads into 2025, and while Novak Djokovic remains a top competitor, there are serious doubts about whether he can add another Grand Slam to his record.
His opponents are younger and fresher and less injury-prone than the record-breaking Serb. When he lines up in Brisbane, we will get an idea of his likely challenge, and the betting app odds will react accordingly, but Novak Djokovic will have to be at his brilliant best if he is going to land Grand Slam number 25.
