Novak Djokovic losing his 'aura' as Croft disagrees with Sky pundit

Novak Djokovic is on a three-match losing streak and has no wins on clay in 2025

Annabel Croft believes that Novak Djokovic is losing his “aura” following his latest defeat in Madrid. The world No. 5 is on a three-match losing streak and has been dumped out in the opening round in four of his last five tournaments. Following his loss to Matteo Arnaldi on Saturday, Djokovic has now pulled out of the upcoming Masters 1000 in Rome and is running out of chances to get wins under his belt going into the French Open. While retired British tennis player Colin Fleming isn’t ruling Djokovic out at Roland Garros and thinks he could play his way into form, Croft disagreed with her fellow Sky Sports pundit and shared fears that things will only get worse for the 24-time Major winner. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

Djokovic has found himself in a rough patch with the French Open just weeks away. The 37-year-old has yet to win a match on clay this year and suffered three losses in a row for the second time this season, and his current form has divided experts. Djokovic has made it clear that his focus is on the Grand Slam tournaments and he previously said the French Open was his only goal for the clay swing. Although he has struggled with motivation, former British doubles star Fleming still believes that Djokovic can rock up and win the biggest tournaments. “If you look at the Paris [Olympics], the gold medal, he lost in the Wimbledon final, didn’t play a match on clay, turned up and won the gold medal,” Fleming said on Sky Sports.

Colin Fleming and Annabel Croft were divided over Novak Djokovic's chances at the French Open

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“So I think he’s still got an inner confidence that, when the time comes, the ones that he is really motivated for the most, the Grand Slams now, to get 25. I still think he thinks he can turn it on. I don’t think he was in the right headspace to compete here. He was sort of flat.” Fleming also thinks the two-week schedule at a Major tournament will work in Djokovic’s favour, where he can play himself into form by the time he faces top players in the latter rounds. “Look, it’s not ideal for him but I wouldn’t rule him out just yet of getting [Grand Slam] number 25 and indeed title number 100 but I think 25 is the big thing for him,” he added. Croft wasn’t convinced, however, pointing out that players now had the belief they could beat Djokovic. “He’s been tending to break down. He’s 37, nearly 38, not going to get any easier and I think everything is just looking very tough and very uphill,” she explained.

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