Tennis analyst Andrea Petkovic has declared that Novak Djokovic faces an inevitable return to playing supporting actor to the sport's new leading men.
The former world No 9 believes the Serbian champion is fated to occupy third place behind the formidable partnership of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Speaking on a podcast with Boris Becker, the German commentator drew parallels between Djokovic's current situation and his position during tennis's previous era.
She noted how the 38-year-old once stood in the shadow of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal before ascending to dominance.
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|Novak Djokovic seems set to be remembered in the shadow of others again
"It was his initial destiny in tennis to be number three," Petkovic observed, suggesting history has come full circle for the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
"Now, towards the end of his career, it's his destiny again to be the third wheel," she added, questioning what the Serbian had done to find himself relegated once more.
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The young duo's supremacy has been absolute, with the pair capturing every major title over the past seven tournaments.
Sinner has claimed four of these championships whilst Alcaraz has secured three, establishing an iron grip on men's tennis.
Djokovic's most recent Grand Slam triumph came at the 2023 US Open, where he extended his record collection to 24 major titles. That victory now stands as the final occasion anyone outside the Sinner-Alcaraz duopoly has lifted a major trophy.
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|Andrea Petkovic believes Novak Djokovic is set to be remembered as a "third wheel"
Throughout 2024 and into 2025, Djokovic has consistently reached the latter stages of majors, advancing to the semi-finals in five of seven attempts.
His three semi-final appearances in 2025 alone demonstrate his enduring competitiveness.
Yet the majority of his recent major defeats have arrived at the hands of tennis's new powerbrokers. Four of his six Grand Slam exits since early 2024 have been inflicted by either Sinner or Alcaraz, with injury accounting for his withdrawal from the 2024 French Open.
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Petkovic's assessment was unsparing in its clarity.
"He's no longer a favourite," she stated on the podcast, acknowledging that whilst Djokovic remains superior to most competitors in crucial matches, his performances fall short when facing the Italian and Spanish stars," she added.
"Now, towards the end of his career, it's his destiny again to be the third wheel."
Despite these setbacks, Petkovic has previously expressed admiration for Djokovic's capabilities. Following his Australian Open campaign earlier this year, where injury forced his retirement in the semi-finals after defeating Alcaraz in the quarters, she praised his performance levels.
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|Andrea Petkovic believes Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will be remembered ahead of Novak Djokovic
"I thought he played so well at the Australian Open that match against Carlos," Petkovic remarked on Tennis Channel's Inside-In podcast in February.
She dismissed suggestions that Alcaraz had underperformed, insisting instead that Djokovic had simply outclassed the Spaniard.