Gael Monfils thinks Novak Djokovic is a firm favourite to win the 2025 Australian Open.
For the first time since 2018 the Serbian will commence a season without being the reigning champion at a Grand Slam.
Djokovic was beaten by Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexei Popyrin at the majors in 2024, and he withdrew from the French Open due to injury.
The 37-year-old is determined to start winning Grand Slams again and Djokovic has enlisted the help of Andy Murray to help him achieve that goal.
Gael Monfils comments on Novak Djokovic’s 2025 Australian Open chances
For the first time in several years, Novak Djokovic will not enter an edition of the Australian Open as the clear favourite. Sinner, the World number one, is the defending champion and defeated him on the way to claiming the title in January.
The Italian looked unstoppable at the hard court majors in 2024 and will be tough to beat, as will Carlos Alcaraz, who is determined to win the one Grand Slam that has eluded him so far.
But Djokovic, who has won the tournament a record 10 times, cannot be counted out and Gael Monfils thinks he can go all the way at Melbourne Park once again.
“You look at Carlos, Jannik, Zverev and all the top ten will be contenders in Melbourne, but the top two will be Jannik and Carlos. Novak is still a contender for the Australian Open,” the Frenchman told Tennis365.
“Of course he can win one more Grand Slam in his career and why can’t it be in Australia, where he has won it so many times? Now he has Andy with him and this is great for the sport. We are all looking to see how he can match it all up.”
Has Gael Monfils beaten Novak Djokovic?
Djokovic has been a thorn in Monfils’ side for the majority of his career. The pair have played on 19 occasions, and the 24-time Grand Slam champion has emerged victorious each time.
The closest Monfils came to beating Djokovic was in the Dubai Open semi-finals in 2020. Monfils held three match points but failed to take them and Djokovic stormed back to win 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-1.
When asked what he finds most challenging about playing Djokovic by Express US in December 2023, he said: “Everything. He has beaten me in every aspect so far. I was very close at times to finding the keys but unfortunately, I haven’t found it yet.
“I always try to put myself in a position that I can play him again and try to find a way to beat him. It’s not easy of course, but I hope one day I find it.”
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