Andy Roddick has shared his concerns about Novak Djokovic for two specific reasons, following the Serbian’s loss to Jannik Sinner at the 2024 Australian Open. The former world No. 1 highlighted Djokovic’s aging factor, stating that at 36, he is not getting any younger. Roddick also emphasized the presence of young rivals who, in his opinion, have the capability to challenge Djokovic significantly.

In the recent Australian Open semi-finals, Djokovic suffered a decisive defeat in four sets against world No. 4 Sinner, marking his first loss at the tournament since 2018. Despite Djokovic’s remarkable record of winning 10 Australian Open titles, including his inaugural major victory in Melbourne in 2008, Roddick expressed concerns about the challenges posed by younger competitors.

After the semifinal loss, Djokovic was notably critical of his own performance, describing it as one of the worst Grand Slam matches he could remember. Looking ahead to Djokovic’s future tournaments, Roddick discussed and analyzed the Serbian’s campaign in Australia on his podcast, “Served with Andy Roddick.”

“He exited this tournament with a bit of a limp, and it’s not his fault; the guy has been superior to anyone on Earth, and these things happen,” the American remarked.

“But I have some concerns. Firstly, he’s not getting any younger, and when the decline starts, it happens swiftly. Additionally, there are opponents from the new generation who can challenge him. Once they realize they can beat him, they won’t revert to the mentality that he’s unbeatable.

“It’s going to be about the mental aspect and how that plays out. For the past 10 years, I haven’t worried about Novak playing in Indian Wells, Miami, or any other hard-court event. It just isn’t as crucial as the Grand Slams, where he has consistently shown up and delivered results. I’m keen to see how he performs in Indian Wells or Miami, facing the pressure and dealing with the aftermath of a significant defeat.”

While Djokovic has yet to confirm his next tournament, it’s likely to be the Indian Wells Masters in March, as he hasn’t entered the Dubai Tennis Championships, an event he typically participates in.

The 2003 US Open champion, Roddick, also discussed Djokovic’s talent for finding motivation during challenging matches, something he believed was lacking in Djokovic’s loss to Sinner.

“He’s usually good at finding someone to spar with and using that as a tool to ignite himself. We’ve all been there, but Novak way less than the rest of us, which is why he is who he is. His ability to find a way to motivate himself is also a superpower, right?”