Former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis has offered an honest assessment of Novak Djokovic’s chances of winning more Grand Slam titles, while also sharing his thoughts on how long the Serbian great may continue his illustrious career.
Djokovic last lifted a Grand Slam trophy at the 2023 US Open, where he claimed a record-extending 24th men’s singles major title. Since then, the following eight Grand Slam tournaments have been dominated by the sport’s new generation, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner sharing the honours.
At present, the record for the oldest Grand Slam singles champion is held by Ken Rosewall, who won the Australian Open in 1972 at the age of 37 years, one month and 24 days. Djokovic, who will turn 39 in May next year, would surpass that milestone if he were to capture a 25th major title.
Despite advancing age and a reduced playing schedule, Djokovic showcased remarkable consistency and longevity during the 2025 season. Competing in only 12 tournaments, he still finished the year ranked world No. 4, compiling an impressive 39–11 win-loss record. The Serbian reached the semi-finals of all four Grand Slam events and added ATP 250 titles in Geneva and Athens to his résumé, underlining his continued ability to compete at the highest level.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Tennis365, Baghdatis acknowledged that adding further Grand Slam titles will become increasingly difficult for Djokovic but insisted the former world No. 1 remains a formidable force.
“Year by year, the chances naturally decrease,” Baghdatis said. “But he’s still there. He’s still among the top five players in the world and still competing with the very best. How long he continues depends entirely on him—especially on his mindset, whether he still enjoys playing and competing at that level. If I were in his position, I wouldn’t want to retire either. Ultimately, it’s his decision.”
Baghdatis also pointed out that the modern tennis calendar places significant physical and mental demands on players, making it increasingly challenging to sustain elite performance over such a long period.
The former world No. 8 has first-hand experience of facing Djokovic, having played him eight times between 2007 and 2015. Although Baghdatis lost all eight encounters, he managed to take at least one set in five of those matches, including all three of their Grand Slam meetings.
Reflecting on those contests, Baghdatis revealed that Djokovic left a unique impression on him compared to other legends of the game, including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
“Most of my matches against Novak were quite close, at least from how I remember them,” he said. “But there was one match at Indian Wells where he completely outplayed me. I walked off the court feeling like I had just been given a lesson. I never felt that way after playing Roger or Rafa. Even when I lost to them, I always believed I could beat them the next time. With Novak, especially after that match, I didn’t have that feeling.”
Baghdatis went on to suggest that Djokovic reached an exceptionally high peak during his career—one that, in his view, surpassed even that of Federer and Nadal.
As Djokovic continues to defy expectations deep into his late 30s, questions about his retirement and future Grand Slam prospects remain open. However, as Baghdatis noted, as long as Djokovic remains motivated and competitive, the tennis world cannot afford to rule out the possibility of yet another historic triumph.