Seven-time Grand Slam champion breaks down what Novak Djokovic needs to win the US Open

As the final spots for the US Open main draw are being finalized, Novak Djokovic is preparing for the year’s last Grand Slam with his sights set on claiming the 25th Major title of his career. But the path won’t be easy, with top competitors like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz standing in his way.

That’s why former World No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander believes Djokovic may need some help from other players to achieve his goal. The Swedish tennis legend noted that it would be extremely difficult for the Serbian to defeat both Sinner and Alcaraz in the same tournament, meaning he might rely on someone else to eliminate one of them along the way.

“Looking at the last matches that he’s played against Sinner and Alcaraz, I think he may need some help to win that 25th Grand Slam,” Wilander said via Tennis365. “I think we need something to happen to them, to at least one of them, because to beat Sinner, and then to beat Alcaraz and having to beat someone like Jack Draper maybe before… that’s tough for any player, even if your name is Novak Djokovic. So I do think that he does need a little bit of help from the other guys”.

Previously, Djokovic was knocked out by Sinner in the semifinals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. At the Australian Open, he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals but was forced to retire in the semifinal against Alexander Zverev, where Sinner awaited in the final.

Jannik Sinner embraces Novak Djokovic at the net following his victory during the 2025 Wimbledon. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Wilander isn’t counting Djokovic out at the US Open

Novak Djokovic will kick off his US Open campaign on Sunday, August 24, facing Lerner Tien. Despite the challenging draw and the tough competition ahead, Mats Wilander emphasized that it’s far too early to rule out the Serbian star from contention. “I would not count him out yet,” Wilander said. “I thought he had a chance to win another Grand Slam in 2025 and Wimbledon looked like his best chance”.

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The Swedish tennis legend also pointed out that Djokovic’s biggest challenge at the US Open won’t be his skill level but his physical endurance. At 38, the Serb will need to string together several consecutive victories to capture the title—a demanding feat at any age.

“I have not written him off, but it’s getting tougher than ever for him. He needs to beat four players in a row to win a Grand Slam and they might all be really tough. That’s the big problem. It’s not the level he is at. It’s trying to bounce back from winning match after match. That’s tough at any age and especially at his age,” Wilander concluded.