Former Russian player Nadia Petrova has outlined a worrying outlook for Novak Djokovic ahead of the 2026 season. The former WTA World No. 3Â believes the Serb could drop out of the top 10 next year, citing age as a factor that may begin to hinder his performances.
Petrova suggested that this could make it increasingly difficult for the Serb to keep pace with younger rivals in the elite group, such as Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev.
Nadia Petrova Predicts a Stunning Decline for Novak Djokovic, Drawing Comparisons With Younger Top-10 Rivals Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev
Djokovic enjoyed a dominant 2023 season, capturing seven tour titles, including three Grand Slams that lifted his Major tally to a record 24, before capping the year with victory at the ATP Finals in Turin. However, his momentum appeared to stall in 2024, as he endured a titleless campaign and failed to win a Grand Slam in a season for the first time since 2017.
The Serb also endured a somewhat similar outcome in 2025 as he didn’t win a Grand Slam despite multiple semifinal appearances. He finished the year with a 39-11 win-loss record and two ATP 250 events in Geneva and Athens. It is also worth noting that the Serb opted to skip several high-profile tournaments to prioritize his performances at the Grand Slams. He sat out the entire North American swing apart from the US Open and later withdrew from the ATP Finals in Turin.
While the 24-time Grand Slam champion will look to turn things around in 2026, Petrova holds a contrasting view. In a recent interview with Championat, the Olympic bronze medalist said she sees Djokovic dropping out of the top 10 next season, with age playing a significant role.
“That’s a very interesting question. It could even be Novak Djokovic himself. After all, if you look at age, all the players in the top 10 are around 23. Sasha Zverev and Taylor Fritz are 28, and Novak is 38,” she said.
Petrova noted that despite winning two titles, Djokovic failed to reach a Grand Slam final and is struggling physically, adding that every other top-10 player fully deserves their ranking.
“This year, of course, Novak managed to win two tournaments, but he didn’t reach the finals of any Grand Slam tournaments. And each time, it’s getting more and more difficult for him physically. I can’t even imagine who else it could have been. Everyone in the top ten deservedly did so based on their game,” she added.
Nonetheless, Djokovic remains firmly focused on capturing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title and could lean on his vast experience to make another deep run. The Australian Open, the season’s first Major, may yet offer that opportunity. Until then, only time will reveal what lies ahead for the Serb.
