Novak Djokovic has won the Australian Open ten times, but very few think he can do it once more. After the 2025 Australian Open draw came out, even fewer people feel that he can achieve it.
The reason is a rather complicated draw that features many great players in his quarter, including Carlos Alcaraz. Andy Roddick sat down with noted journalist Jon Wertheim to talk about it, and he shares a similar view as many others.
The individual matchups are very scary because they’re all very good players, but in the end, he would still kind of take Djokovic due to the experience factor.
“This is a really tough section for Novak. Uncomfortable matchups. Machac can beat anybody for pace on a given day. Opelka serves from a tree. Lehecka will be borderline top 10 this year. This is tough. If you look at this section, all the variables, all these guys not having gone super far in a slam before. If I look at this section, who is most likely to get through, I think my answer is still Novak. Individual matchups I’m scared. If I look at the 4-5 players who can get through, I still think Novak gets there most often.” – Andy Roddick summarized Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open draw (1:03:57)
Getting through the tough draw remains a possibility for a player of Djokovic’s quality. However, his overall level hasn’t been very impressive in the past few months and up to a year, which makes beating multiple good players in a row rather complicated.
Novak Djokovic recently suffered a shock loss to Reilly Opelka
Another reason why many fear for Novak Djokovic’s chances is that his section also has Reilly Opelka. The American famously handed the veteran his first loss of 2025, and while losing a tennis match in a small ATP 250 event isn’t a huge problem for the Serb, the way he lost was very problematic.
He looked out of ideas against Opelka rather quickly and lost in straight sets. It wasn’t a terrible performance, but rather a reminder that he is more vulnerable now than he ever was.
When you add into the mix even stronger players like Jiri Lehecka or Carlos Alcaraz, whom he may well have to beat if he hopes to make the semifinals, it becomes an even more daunting task.
One step at a time for Djokovic, who faces Nishesh Basavareddy in the opening round, and that’s not an easy matchup either. Time will tell if we get a rematch between him and Opelka, because the latter has been struggling with back issues.
