'I made Novak Djokovic prediction that everyone jumped on me for – I've been proven right'
Novak Djokovic has reached the US Open semi-finals after defeating American Taylor Fritz, and former tennis star Gilles Simon has stood by his earlier prediction
Former tennis star Gilles Simon has stood firm on his controversial Novak Djokovic prediction, which the Serbian legend is attempting to prove wrong at the US Open. The ex-world No. 6 has been proven right so far after previously facing backlash for claiming Djokovic wouldn't reach 30 grand slam victories and would max out at 25 major titles before hanging up his racket.
Simon's earlier statement has proven prescient as Djokovic remains in pursuit of that elusive 25th major championship at the US Open. The 38-year-old is preparing to battle Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows following his four-set victory over American Taylor Fritz.
While Djokovic holds the record for most men's grand slam singles championships, many anticipated he would continue to dominate during his twilight years. Yet the rise of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who have claimed the past seven majors between them, has validated Simon's claim, with Djokovic failing to add to his grand slam titles since winning the 2023 US Open.
During a Q&A on X last week, Simon was asked about whether Djokovic would secure a 25th title. "It seems difficult to me, even with Novak," Simon replied. "Everyone jumped on me when I said he would finish with 25 Grand Slam titles, but certainly not 30, and in the end, time is doing its work for him as it does for everyone else."
Djokovic, who has battled through injuries at the US Open, recognizes that he's entering the twilight of his career and has embraced a reduced schedule to boost his grand slam hopes. Simon, who hung up his racket in 2022, explained why Djokovic's strategy is not necessarily possible for every tennis player.
"On paper, he is not free," Simon explained. "These tournaments are mandatory; otherwise, there are penalties in terms of ranking, money (for the end-of-year bonus), etc. But these penalties are insignificant for a player like Novak, so as he says, he has earned the right to play wherever he wants."
It's understandable why Simon's prediction was initially unpopular. In 2023, Djokovic captured three of the four majors, only falling to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
However, last year, the 38-year-old ended the season without a grand slam victory for the first time since 2017. He did make it to the Wimbledon final, but he was once more beaten by Alcaraz.
It's not that Djokovic has declined dramatically as he nears retirement, having made the semi-finals of all three majors this year before the US Open. Yet, his advancing age and the rise of his younger rivals have meant that Djokovic is no longer a level above his toughest opponents, as he acknowledged after his quarter-final win over Fritz.
"Incredibly close match," Djokovic said during his on-court interview. "It was really anybody's match. I thought I was lucky to save some crucial break points in the second set. I think for most of the second and third set, he was a better player. In these kind of matches, a few points decide the winner."
He is set to face Alcaraz in the next round, having triumphed over him in their last two encounters at the Paris Olympics and this year's Australian Open. However, Alcaraz seemed to relish his straight sets victory over Jiri Lehecka.
"I'm really happy the way I'm serving right now, and that's why I'm playing with such joy - no pressure at all," he shared with Sky Sports. "This is the way I love playing tennis and I'm trying to follow it that way. When I have the opportunity to bring a hot shot, I just think, 'Why not?' I'm here to entertain the people."
Djokovic boasts a 5-3 record against Alcaraz, despite losing two Wimbledon finals to the Spaniard. Their US Open semi-final clash will take place on Friday.