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There is no escaping the fact that age is catching up with Novak Djokovic.<\/b><\/p>\n
With his 38th birthday fast approaching, the evidence shows the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s powers are waning.<\/p>\n
But as the men’s clay-court season begins in Monte Carlo, Djokovic looks in a much better place than a fortnight ago.<\/p>\n
Finishing runner-up in Miami to Czech teenager Jakub Mensik showed that the world number five is not ready to roll into retirement yet.<\/p>\n
“There is no doubt that [motivation] has become more difficult throughout my career but the performances in Miami give me more inspiration to keep going,” Djokovic said.<\/p>\n
The Serb veteran knows his serve needs to be potent if he is going to challenge at the upcoming French Open and Wimbledon.<\/p>\n
Unable to rely as much on physicality against his younger opponents, Djokovic wants the accuracy of his opening shot – an underrated part of his game – to help limit the baseline rallies.<\/p>\n
We saw the effectiveness in Miami.<\/p>\n
Based on precision rather than power, he landed 79% of first serves – including a career-high 87% in the semi-final against Grigor Dimitrov – and only faced seven break points in his opening five matches.<\/p>\n
“Now I know what it’s like to be John Isner,” he joked after beating Dimitrov.<\/p>\n
Djokovic has not won a major since the 2023 US Open and claimed only one title last season – albeit the Olympic gold he had long craved.<\/p>\n
That came on the Roland Garros clay, where he aims to win a standalone 25th Grand Slam title in June.<\/p>\n
His other priority is becoming only the third man to claim a 100th tour-level singles title.<\/p>\n
He will, however, have to come through a strong field in Monte Carlo, with 17 of the top 20 players competing. <\/p>\n
Britain’s Jack Draper<\/b> is one of them, with Alexander Zverev <\/b>and Carlos Alcaraz<\/b> among the favourites.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n