Andy Roddick raised concerns over Novak Djokovic after the world No. 1 crashed out in the semi-final of the Australian Open.

Andy Roddick has raised concerns over the increasing calibre of Novak Djokovic’s competitors. The world No. 1 crashed out in the semi-final of the Australian Open for the first time in his career, ending his six-year unbeaten run in Melbourne. While it was clear Djokovic wasn’t at his best Down Under, Roddick admitted that the Serb’s younger rivals will only have more belief next time they face him.

Novak Djokovic was ousted in the semi-final of the Australian Open (Image: Getty)

Djokovic suffered a disappointing start to the season by his standards. Before this year, the 36-year-old had not lost a match on Australian soil since 2018. But he was beaten by Alex de Minaur at the United Cup in Perth before Jannik Sinner ousted him in the semi-final of the Australian Open.

Before that match, Djokovic had always gone on to lift the trophy in Melbourne when he reached the semis. The 24-time Grand Slam champion looked vulnerable throughout the fortnight, being pushed by Dino Prizmic and Alexei Popyrin in his first two matches as he battled an illness.

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While there’s no doubt that the world No. 1 will bounce back stronger and continue to be the favourite at the Majors, one of his old rivals believes he could become vulnerable to younger talents like Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. “He kind of limped out of this Australian Open a little bit, you know, through no fault of his own,” Roddick said on his new Served podcast.

Andy Roddick shared his concerns after Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open exit (Image: Getty)

“The guy’s been better than anyone on Earth, and it’s going to happen.” Djokovic has now lost important Grand Slam matches to each of Sinner, Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev. The latter two beat him in finals, with Alcaraz winning Wimbledon in 2023 and Medvedev lifting the 2021 US Open trophy.

As the 36-year-old begins to suffer more losses on the biggest stages, Roddick is concerned that it could help his rivals’ belief when it comes to beating him. The 2003 US Open champion continued: “But I’m a little concerned…

“One, he’s not getting younger when it turns, it turns quickly also, he has guys that can punch him in the mouth, you know, he has this new generation that once they know they can beat him, they’re not going to revert to the mentality that there’s no way to beat him.”

Andy Roddick said a Novak Djokovic defeat was going to happen eventually (Image: Getty)

Roddick’s theory already appears to be true in Sinner’s case, as the 22-year-old defeated Djokovic twice in the space of two weeks in November before downing him at the Australian Open. The world No. 4 won their ATP Finals group stage clash but Djokovic got revenge when they met in the final just a few days later.

Sinner turned the tables again at the Davis Cup when Italy faced Serbia in the semi-final. He saved three match points to beat Djokovic in the singles. Teaming up with Lorenzo Sonego, the pair then beat Djokovic and Miomir Kecmanovic in doubles to reach the final, going on to clinch the trophy for Italy.