Novak Djokovic was blown away by Jannik Sinner yesterday in the Wimbledon semi-final, highlighting just how large the gulf between them is when the Italian is at his best.
It was a particularly damaging defeat for fans who had hoped that the 39-year-old was still capable of winning that 25th Grand Slam title.
That dream seems to be slipping further and further away.
Martina Navratilova recently said if she still thought Djokovic could win another major, offering shoots of positivity.
Off the back of that, there is also another huge benefit to yesterday’s loss that should be cause for optimism.
The positives behind Novak Djokovic’s loss in the Wimbledon semi-final
No matter what happens on Sunday, the new ATP rankings have already been confirmed, with the top ten receiving an unsurprising shake-up.
This always happens after a major, with so many points on offer, and is actually the bedrock of a potential boost for Novak Djokovic.
Who will win the Wimbledon final? Jannik Sinner or Alexander Zverev
The top two seeds collide!
After all, despite jumping one spot to seventh in the world rankings, the expectation is that he will fall further as the year goes on, which could put him in the perfect position come January for the Australian Open.
The lower down the rankings, the sooner he will have to face one of Carlos Alcaraz or Sinner.
Whilst, on paper, this is undesirable, it is actually far more preferable than what he has currently been doing.
Both of these two superstars have dominated the majors in recent years, but at times started slowly and played themselves into form. Sinner’s first-round match at this very Wimbledon saw him taken to five sets by Miomir Kecmanovic.
Novak Djokovic is the tennis GOAT… Prove us wrong
If Djokovic can drop down the rankings and maybe face them sooner, he could have a better chance of not only being fitter but also catching them before they have hit their stride.
At the moment, he’s facing them in the semi-finals or the final, when they are playing their best tennis. It’s a recipe for disaster.
This change could make all the difference as he has one last throw of the dice in trying to win number 25.
Who are the current oldest players to ever win a Grand Slam title?
If Djokovic is to ever win a Grand Slam title now, it would unsurprisingly make him the oldest in the history of the sport to ever do it.
That is what makes his continued competitiveness at this level so astounding.
On the women’s side, Serena Williams’ last major title in 2017 made her the oldest WTA player to accomplish this feat at 35 years old.
| Rank | Player | Tournament | Age at time of title |
| 1. | Ken Rosewall | 1972 Australian Open | 37 years, one month, 24 days |
| 2. | Roger Federer | 2018 Australian Open | 36 years, five months, seven days |
| 3. | Ken Rosewall | 1971 Australian Open | 36 years, four months, five days |
| 4. | Novak Djokovic | 2023 US Open | 36 years, three months, six days |
| 5. | Novak Djokovic | 2023 French Open | 36 years, six days |
However, Ken Rosewall was 37 when he won the 1972 Australian Open.
Delving into doubles, and unsurprisingly, the ages go up with far less running to be done.
The legendary Martina Navratilova actually managed to win the 2006 US Open mixed doubles at 49 years old, ten years older than Djokovic is now.
What’s even more incredible is that she did it when just 39 days away from her 50th birthday.
