Novak Djokovic finished the 2025 season ranked fourth in the world, with a total of 4,830 ATP points.
The Serb ended his campaign trailing third-placed Alexander Zverev by just 330 points, having only played 13 tournaments.
Djokovic‘s placement in the world’s top five was largely due to his results at Grand Slams this season, with the 38-year-old reaching the semifinals at all four majors.
He also enjoyed lengthy runs in Miami and Shanghai, and clinched two tour-level titles in Geneva and Athens.
Though he remains one of the best players in the world in the twilight of his career, former WTA number three Nadia Petrova thinks 2026 is the year Djokovic endures a big decline.
Nadia Petrova predicts what will happen to Novak Djokovic in 2026
When asked in an interview with Championat who may drop out of the top ten next season, Petrova responded: “That’s a very interesting question. It could even be Novak Djokovic himself.
“After all, if you look at age, all the players in the top 10 are around 23. Sasha Zverev and Taylor Fritz are 28, and Novak is 38.
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“This year, of course, Novak managed to win two tournaments, but he didn’t reach the finals of any Grand Slam tournaments.
“And each time, it’s getting more and more difficult for him physically. I can’t even imagine who else it could have been.
“Everyone in the top ten deservedly did so based on their game,” said Petrova, who claimed 13 WTA titles during her career.
The last time Novak Djokovic dropped outside the top ten
Djokovic first cracked the world’s top ten back in April 2007, shortly after winning a maiden ATP Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open.
He remained there for over ten years and held the position of world number one for a large portion of that time period.
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In 2017, Djokovic failed to defend several big titles, including the Australian Open and Roland Garros, which saw him fall outside the top ten.
The 24-time major winner was sidelined for the second half of that year due to injury, and plummeted to as low as 22nd.
Djokovic returned to the top ten towards the end of 2018, however, and reclaimed world number one status in November.
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