Novak Djokovic truly is a one-of-a-kind athlete, as he continues to remain a dangerous and relevant threat on the ATP Tour at 39 years of age.
What he continues to do, even if he feels so far away from winning his 25th Grand Slam, is astounding, having just reached the semi-finals of all four majors in 2025.
For most, that is a career campaign. For him, it’s deemed not quite good enough.
However, despite Novak Djokovic claiming he wants to play at the 2028 LA Olympics, it does feel like his career is winding down.
Novak Djokovic would be the undisputed GOAT if he won Grand Slam number 25 – could anyone argue otherwise?
He is featuring in fewer tournaments, and thus winning far fewer events.
As such, the search for his natural successor had already started years ago.
The ATP teenager whom Novak Djokovic likened himself to in 2023
Nowadays, people might liken Jannik Sinner to the Serbian superstar, for their clean ball-striking and relentless ability to bludgeon their opponents.
However, just two years ago, there was another ATP star whom Novak Djokovic himself made the comparison between them.
Speaking after beating Holger Rune at the Paris Masters, just a year after he had lost in the final to the teenage sensation, he admitted: “It was quite a similar match to last year’s final, it was anybody’s game in every set.
“I played an awful tie-break in the second set, probably the worst one this year. But again, credit to him for staying mentally tough and playing solid.
“We have similar games. Move well, defend well and all-around players.”
Holger Rune has struggled to live up to the hype since winning the Paris Masters
Whilst Rune is still a top-ten player, and more than capable of re-establishing himself as a genuine threat on the ATP Tour, it’s fair to say that he’s yet to live up to the hype that surrounded him after he won the Paris Masters in 2022.
Beating Djokovic in the final of an event of that magnitude was bound to shoot him to stardom, but there have been so many issues that have followed to prevent his expected progression.
That being said, winning just one title since that Paris triumph marks a disappointing return for the Danish talent.
Fortunately, he is still just 22 years old, although Rune is currently recovering from an Achilles injury sustained in October.
Expected to be out for the bulk of 2026, the hope is that the youngster can burst back onto the scene later next year and prove why Djokovic made this legendary comparison just two years ago.
