Novak Djokovic winning a 25th Grand Slam title may not be as meaningful as many have made out.
Djokovic was beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final, extending his wait for a 25th career Grand Slam singles title.
The Serbian has not won a major title since the 2023 US Open, with there now being doubts over whether Djokovic will reach another Grand Slam final.
While Djokovic’s future in tennis is uncertain, a Tennis Hall of Famer has explained why he thinks 25 Grand Slams is not as important as some claim it to be.
Steve Flink thinks there’s a more ‘meaningful’ record for Novak Djokovic to target than 25 majors
Regardless of whether he wins a 25th major title, Djokovic is considered the greatest of all time in many people’s minds anyway.
However, that is not the reason that Tennis Hall of Fame journalist Steve Flink thinks a 25th Grand Slam does not mean that much to Djokovic.
Are you more or less confident that Novak Djokovic can win his 25th Grand Slam now?
Instead, Flink gave his view that Djokovic moving ahead of Margaret Court in terms of singles majors is not as significant as him becoming the oldest Grand Slam champion in the Open Era would be.
“It’s frustrating for Novak, could have been the oldest ever [Grand Slam champion],” Flink said on the Court-side with Beilinson Tennis podcast. “That would have been to me the more meaningful accomplishment for him is if he could have won to be the oldest in the Open Era among the men to win a major.
“The 25 it’s versus Margaret Court, we have had this discussion. The fact that he would be tied with her, I just don’t think it matters that much. I’m not sure what he would have said himself if he had gotten it. How much did that mean to break the tie with her as opposed to just winning another major and proving to everybody that he could still do it and being the oldest?
“Because you know, obviously the men compete against the men, and women against women, TV is making a big deal and I don’t blame them, it’s kind of fun for the fans to see all those faces up there. They’re men and women together, and you see Margaret Court 24, Novak Djokovic 24, and you see Serena [Williams], and you see Rafa [Nadal], but somehow to me they should be separated, because that’s just how it is competitively.
“I think what bothered him was just he was playing well and it would have been thrilling to beat [Jannik] Sinner and Alcaraz back-to-back and win another Australian, but the 25 in the end if it doesn’t ever come I don’t think it’s going to be that distressing.”
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Who are the top five oldest Grand Slam champions in the Open Era?
Ken Rosewall is the oldest Grand Slam champion in the Open Era in men’s singles, having won the Australian Open title at 37 years old and two months.
However, 38-year-old Djokovic was just two sets away from breaking this record, before Alcaraz fought back to beat him in four sets.
Despite this, Djokovic is still one of the oldest Grand Slam champions in history, having won the 2023 US Open at 36 years old.
| Top five oldest Grand Slam champions | Grand Slam title they won | Age they won Grand Slam title |
| Ken Rosewall | Australian Open 1972 | 37 years, 2 months and one day |
| Roger Federer | Australian Open 2018 | 36 years, 5 months and 20 days |
| Ken Rosewall | Australian Open 1971 | 36 years, 4 months and 12 days |
| Novak Djokovic | US Open 2023 | 36 years, 3 months and 19 days |
| Novak Djokovic | French Open 2023 | 36 years and 20 days |
Djokovic will have to wait nearly four months for his next opportunity to become the oldest major champion in history at the French Open.
Before then, Djokovic is next scheduled to compete at the Qatar Open, where Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are also entered.
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