Novak Djokovic Makes a Key Offseason Addition to Regain His Physical Edge

Despite being nearly 39 years old and not having added to his historic Major tally in two full seasons now, Novak Djokovic has given no indication of stepping away from the game. And why would he? Even on a restricted tennis schedule, tailored around the biggest tournaments in the sport, he ended the year ranked world No. 4 — closer to third than fifth.

While his age and the inevitable wear and tear that comes with it have certainly played a role, a big reason the former World No. 1 has been unable to add to his Slam count is the emergence of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz as dominant forces. Between them, the pair are responsible for five of Djokovic’s seven Major losses since 2024.

A Strategic Change Ahead of 2025

In a bid to counter that challenge, Djokovic has added a new member to his team: Dr. Mark Kovacs. Kovacs, who has worked with current Top 10 WTA players such as Coco Gauff and Madison Keys, is a high-performance sports technology consultant and performance physiologist with an extensive background in training and researching elite athletes worldwide.

Specifically for the Serbian, Kovacs’ expertise in physical conditioning, injury prevention, biomechanics, and recovery could prove invaluable. In several of Djokovic’s biggest matches recently, he has appeared fatigued — something the 24-time Major champion himself has acknowledged in post-match press conferences this year.

Earlier this month, Djokovic also sent a familiar warning to the rest of the tour, stating that he is “Rebuilding the Machine” when referring to his offseason plans for 2025. Once again, he prioritised a longer offseason rather than competing at the Nitto ATP Finals, signalling a clear focus on longevity and peak performance at the biggest events next year.

With new personnel now added to his team, those comments carry even greater weight–and will be closely watched as the tennis icon continues his pursuit of the elusive 25th Major title next year.