Copyright Essentially Sports
Novak Djokovic is back. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is set for a big return, and all eyes are on him now. He played 12 events this season, storming into the semifinals at every major. In Geneva, he notched up his 100th tour win. The 25th major has stayed out of reach so far, but Djokovic has paced himself. We last saw him at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, followed by the Shanghai Masters, both of which ended with semifinal exits. The Shanghai run ended with a retirement against Taylor Fritz. Now he’s rested. The Serb is ready to hit the tour again, but the road ahead won’t be easy. On Tuesday, November 4, Nole enters as the No.1 seed at the Hellenic Championship in Athens, Greece. He starts with a first-round bye, so his campaign kicks off in round two. Waiting there? Either Alejandro Tabilo or Adam Walton. Djokovic and Walton have never met. But with Tabilo, history bites. The Chilean leads their head-to-head 2-0. They faced off in Monte Carlo this year, where Tabilo knocked Nole out in the opening round. Before that, Tabilo beat the Serb again at the Italian Open last season. Both times, Djokovic couldn’t make it past the first round. If he gets past his opener, things get tougher. Quarterfinals could bring familiar names. Nuno Borges or Laslo Djere might be next. Borges is ranked No.46, struggling with a 28/29 win-loss record this year, and hasn’t played Djokovic on tour yet. Djere is a different story. The two Serbs have played three times, with Nole winning all: twice at the US Open (2023 and 2024), and once in Belgrade. Djere has a 13-12 record this year, collecting a title in Santiago. He knows what it takes to compete, but history favors Novak Djokovic. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Onward to the semifinal. Here, Brandon Nakashima, Fabian Marozsan, or Reilly Opelka could emerge. Neither Nakashima nor Marozsan has faced Nole before, and they’ll come in swinging. The real X-factor is Opelka. His serve is a weapon, especially on indoor courts! Most notably, Opelka took out Novak Djokovic at the Brisbane Open this year, winning 7-6, 6-3. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad The final could bring a showdown with Lorenzo Musetti, Alexei Popyrin, Luciano Darderi, or Alexandre Muller. Musetti has tested Djokovic nine times, snatching two memorable sets from him at Roland Garros in 2024, but Nole leads their history 8-1. Popyrin’s met the Serb four times and claimed victory in their last duel, the 2024 US Open Round of 32. Darderi has yet to play Djokovic. Muller, however, ran into Nole at Wimbledon this year and lost in the opening round. They also met at the 2023 US Open, same stage, with the same result. The odds may favor Novak, and he’s notoriously hard to beat. But nothing is certain in tennis. Whoever he faces, Djokovic’s road in Athens mixes youth, firepower, and a few familiar battles. Still, his health remains the main concern. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Novak Djokovic on his form after the Six Kings Slam retirement On October 18 in Riyadh, Djokovic gave everything in a grueling battle that stretched 76 minutes in the first set alone. It was a showcase of rallies, grit, and grimaces before he finally dropped the set 7-6(4) in the Six Kings Slam third-place match against Taylor Fritz. The match felt less like a loss and more like a warning sign. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad The clues were already out there. In Shanghai, Djokovic had looked far from his best, fighting through illness along with pain in his hip, back, and legs before falling to Valentin Vacherot. When pressed about his health afterward, he deflected with, “No. Next question, please.” At the time, fans brushed it off, convinced he would show up at the Paris Masters on October 27. But when the tournament came another update dropped. Novak Djokovic later confirmed their suspicions himself on X. “Dear Paris, unfortunately I’ll not compete at this year’s @RolexPMasters. I have amazing memories and great success over the years, especially being able to conquer the title 7 times. Hope to see you next year. Merci.” It was disappointing news but far from shocking. The 24-time Grand Slam champion had already hinted he might ease his schedule to protect his body. Still, one thing he was sure about is the upcoming ATP 250 event. “After Shanghai, the only tournament I know I’m going to play is the one in Athens, and then let’s see if I play Turin or not,” he said. That choice makes sense. The event has been relocated from Belgrade and carries a personal touch, partly linked to his family’s tennis academy. Now, with the tournament about to begin, the question is simple: Can Novak Djokovic fight through the aches and make another title run in Athens?
