Djokovic Eyes More Slam Glory, Swiatek Returns Under Doping Cloud

Novak Djokovic is confident he can still win Grand Slams, starting at the Australian Open, with the Serbian kickstarting his bid for an unprecedented 11th title and record 25th major crown in Brisbane this week.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, who is gunning for a third Melbourne Park trophy, joins him at the Queensland Tennis Centre from December 29-January 5 in a stellar women’s field.

The 2025 season gets under way on Friday with the mixed-teams United Cup in Perth and Sydney, headlined by world No 2 Iga Swiatek in her first tournament since revelations that she served a one-month doping suspension.

It is the first season since 37-year-old Djokovic began playing that none of the other so-called “Big Four” will be on the other side of the net following the retirements this year of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

Roger Federer called it quits in 2022.

As they faded, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz stepped up to become the new Grand Slam kings, with both men opting against a warm-up tournament leading into the first major of the year which begins on January 12.

As doubts grow over Djokovic’s motivation and ability to take down the new guard after a disappointing 2024, he stunned the tennis world by hiring Murray to coach him.