Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli recently declared that Novak Djokovic is steadfast in his pursuit to cap off his career with 25 Grand Slam titles. In the 2025 Miami Open final, the Serbian star faced a tough challenge when 19-year-old Czech prodigy Jakub Mensik edged him out in two tie-break sets—7-6(4), 7-6(4). At 37, Djokovic was gunning for his 100th ATP singles title, yet his milestone celebration will have to wait until later in the clay-court season.
Throughout Miami, the world No. 5 showcased his formidable skills by winning five straight matches without dropping a set as he advanced to the title match. Notably, this marked his first final appearance since finishing runner-up to Jannik Sinner at the Shanghai Masters in October. The Serbian, who had earlier clinched his 99th career title by overcoming Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling gold medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics, further bolstered his legacy with a 24th Grand Slam win at the 2023 US Open—a victory that solidified his standing in the men’s major record books.
Reflecting on Djokovic’s relentless ambition after the Miami final, Bartoli—herself a former world No. 7 and 2013 Wimbledon champion—shared her insight on his indomitable spirit. As quoted by L’Equipe, she remarked:
“For me, that desire to win everything, you see it in the depths of his eyes. That moment when he won Olympic gold… He never gave up on that quest.”
She continued, “He wants to finish with 25 Grand Slams to be at the top of the pyramid and not have any name next to his, and I think he won’t stop until he gets that.”
Looking ahead, Djokovic is set to kick off his clay-court campaign at the Monte Carlo Masters as part of his preparations for the French Open. Bartoli’s perspective on Djokovic’s relentless drive is not new; following his awe-inspiring 2023 season—during which he captured seven titles including three Grand Slam victories—she had hailed him as the pinnacle of the sport. In a post on X, she confidently stated, “Djokovic is not only the greatest tennis player of all time but he is also the best sportsman in the world.”
After witnessing the 2024 French Open final, where Carlos Alcaraz emerged victorious, Bartoli once again dismissed suggestions that Djokovic’s era might be drawing to a close. Speaking with RMC Sport, she critiqued his opponents, saying:
“When we see the Roland Garros final between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, who are obviously very great champions, and the number of unforced errors that they still commit, the cramps of Alcaraz and [Jannik] Sinner in the semi‐finals, tell me the number of times Djokovic cramped in finals against [Roger] Federer or [Rafael] Nadal that lasted more than five hours? The number of mistakes made by these players in the finals of Grand Slam tournaments where the level is higher… This is not at all the end of the Novak Djokovic era.”
In this evolving narrative, Djokovic’s relentless pursuit of excellence and unyielding competitive spirit continue to dominate the headlines. As he transitions from hard courts to the distinctive challenges posed by clay, his ambition remains undimmed—a true testament to his enduring legacy and his unwavering quest to etch his name among the all-time greats.