Novak Djokovic has been handed a big boost heading into the first Grand Slam of 2025, as he looks to be on course to be seeded in the top eight of the ATP Rankings for the first major of the new year.

Djokovic will head to Melbourne in January looking to win a remarkable 11th title at the Australian Open, but there are big counts over whether he will have the desire and fire in his heart to compete with young guns Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in the final phase of his career.

Sinner and Alcaraz shared the Grand Slam titles between them in 2024, with the former claiming the Australian Open and US Open titles and the latter winning the French Open and Wimbledon.

Djokovic only played a limited schedule this year, with his focus on winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games reaping reward as he beat Alcaraz in a thrilling Paris final.

He has made it clear that he will continue to play a trimmed down tournament schedule next year and that could impact his ranking heading into the Australian Open.

If Djokovic drops out of the top eight in the rankings, he could be drawn against Sinner or Alcaraz as early as the fourth round in the opening major of next year.

While that would not necessarily impact Djokovic’s ambitions, he may not want to meet a top tier rival in an event when he may be looking to build up his form after a long spell away from the court.

Yet that prospect looks set to be avoided, as a trio of defeats for Andrey Rublev and Alex de Minaur at the ATP Finals in Turin should ensure Djokovic is assured of a top eight seeding for the Australian Open.

That would ensure he can’t meet Sinner or Alcaraz until the quarter-finals in Melbourne, with his eagerness to shine in 2025 highlighted by his comments in a recent interview with La Nacion.

“Deep inside I feel that I still have more Grand Slams to win,” he said. “What still pushes me to compete, especially in the Grand Slams, is the feeling that I can be a candidate to win it. And also for my country. I love playing in the Davis Cup for Serbia

“When I have to motivate myself, there are two things: one is to continue believing that I have the ability to continue fighting for the majors and win them.

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“And second: tennis is still my biggest platform to do other things that interest me and share the messages that interest me, whether they are related to tennis, society, some venture that I have, something that seriously builds my legacy, my brand.

“I still feel that I enjoy the process and it generates all these benefits for me, so why not do it? Some people think I should retire from tennis at the top. Some people think I should keep going as long as I still think I can be the favourite for a Grand Slam. I think more like them.

“Maybe I will change my mind, I don’t know. For now, I feel like I want to keep going. How much longer?

“Travelling and finding motivation is becoming more difficult for me. It’s not easy. And even less so with children. I don’t want to be away from home for so long, but I still have the drive.

“So I feel sorry for those who want me to retire because they will have to see me for a while longer.”

The fire may be flickering inside Djokovic’s heart as he looks to add a final flourish to his tennis legacy, but you write off the most successful player of all time at your peril.

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