Coco Gauff’s old coach predicts if Novak Djokovic will ever reach a Slam final again

Follow us on Google Discover

Novak Djokovic has played 38 Grand Slam finals.

The Serb’s 38th major final took place at the 2026 Australian Open.

There, Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz in four sets, 6-2, 2-6, 3-6, 5-7.

At 38, it’s unlikely we will see Djokovic play too many more Grand Slam finals before he retires from tennis.

Are you more or less confident that Novak Djokovic can win his 25th Grand Slam now?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

But will he ever return to a major final?

Coco Gauff’s former coach, Brad Gilbert, thinks so…

Brad Gilbert backs Novak Djokovic to reach another Grand Slam final

During the latest episode of ‘The Big T Podcast’, Gilbert, CoCo Vandeweghe, and Danielle Collins were playing a game of ‘shank or bank’ (yes or no).

The group was read several statements and had to predict whether they believed they would come true.

• “Novak Djokovic will make another major final.”

Collins was the first to answer.

“Bank,” said Collins.

“I think it’s another question, if he’s going to win a Grand Slam.

“I don’t want to question the G.O.A.T., but I do think it becomes harder with the competition that he’s got, with Carlos [Alcaraz] and [Jannik] Sinner, there are a lot of factors, too, with him getting older.

“But I think we can definitely expect him to at least make a final, if not win another Slam.”

Gauff’s former coach, Gilbert, agreed with Collins.

“If you had asked me before the Aussie Open, I probably would have said no, that he was not making that final,” he said.

“I think his best shot going forward, because I don’t see it happening at Roland Garros, I think it will be at Wimbledon.

“I am going to bank it.”

Vandeweghe is also backing Djokovic to reach a 39th Grand Slam final.

“I am going to bank,” she said.

Who finishes their career on more majors – Alcaraz or Djokovic?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

“I bet against Djokovic come Aussie, but I want to see him coming into the Olympic year (2028).

“He always jumps everything up come Olympic year.

“He is going to make another final, he has got to.”

However, while Gilbert, Vandeweghe, and Collins all seem to think Djokovic will contest another major final before all is said and done, is it a realistic goal?

Well, looking at his Grand Slam record since 2023 (the year he last won a major), it’s really tough to say.

Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam record since 2023

Since playing all four Grand Slam finals in 2023, Djokovic has only reached two finals in his last nine major tournaments.

He’s not getting nearly as many chances to win major tournaments as he was during his prime years on tour.

But can he make another final?

If the draw opens up, why not?

What’s next for Novak Djokovic?

Djokovic will have another shot at Grand Slam glory at the French Open in a few months, but there is plenty of tennis to be played before then.

The Serb is scheduled to return to action at the Qatar Open in Doha.

Doha was a low point of Djokovic’s 2025 season, as he lost his opening match to Matteo Berrettini.

He does, however, have several fond memories of the event, winning the title in 2016 and 2017.

Novak Djokovic’s Qatar Open wins

• 2016 Qatar Open – Beat Rafael Nadal in F
• 2017 Qatar Open – Beat Andy Murray in F

Whether he can add a third title to his collection is another question.

To do so, he may need to take down his two younger rivals, Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who will be joining him in Qatar.

Only time will tell if Djokovic can win the Qatar Open in 2026, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.

The 2026 Qatar Open is scheduled to begin on Monday, February 6.