The Russian could see the legend leave the elite company next year, mainly due to his age and physical problems.
Novak Djokovic wins a PHENOMENAL point against Lorenzo Musetti in Athens.
Vintage defense against attack.
He rolls on the ground as he completes the volley.
Absurd tennis.
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
pic.twitter.com/BeQt5MfhZT
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 8, 2025
Marked as a former world No. 3, the contrast in the exclusive group is stark. At 38 years old, Novak is by far the oldest top 10 player at the end of the year, followed by Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz, who were born ten years after him.
The majority of the group is under 26 years old, which confronts the 24-time Major winner with youth, strength and ruthless physicality. In Petrova’s words, the margin for error is getting smaller every season.
On the other hand, Djokovic’s 2025 campaign still produced silverware. Despite a limited schedule and physical problems throughout the year, the Belgrade native finished the season in the top-4 for the 17th time in the previous 19 years.
That performance speaks volumes and gives the veteran a boost for 2026. After all, Novak remains eager to chase that elusive 25th Major crown next year and score a big win over Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner.
Most importantly, Djokovic has reached all four major semi-finals in the upcoming season, which is enough to keep him in the top 10 without participating in another tournament!
Yet Nadia underlined his failure to reach a major final and challenge men’s tennis’ dominant duo. Younger rivals now maintain intensity over the distances and recover more quickly between prolonged battles.
The way Petrova sees the challenge, it’s less about skills and more about sustainability. So maintaining a top-10 position is becoming increasingly difficult for a player who has already pushed the boundaries of his longevity like few before him.
Injuries, recovery time and selective scheduling could all impact whether Novak can rack up the points needed to remain among the elite. He had no problems with that in 2025 and the new season brings new challenges.
The Belgrade native will begin the 2026 journey in Adelaide, hoping to gain a boost ahead of his beloved Australian Open. It should be another defining chapter in a career that has consistently defied expectations.
The desire and will are still there. However, it’s all about whether his body will allow him to keep up with a generation built for a faster and more physically demanding era.
One thing is clear. We should never underestimate Djokovic and his ability to bring his best tennis to the most remarkable scene.
“Who will leave the top 10 in 2026? That is a very interesting question. It could even be Novak himself. If you look at the age, all players in the top 10 are around 23 years old.”
Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz are 28 and he is 38. This year Novak has won at least two tournaments, but he has not reached a Major final. With each season it becomes more and more difficult for him to remain physically competitive,” said Nadia Petrova.
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