Author: Barkha Roy
In a shocking turn of events, retirement speculation has surrounded the current powerhouse of the tennis world, Novak Djokovic. Just a few months after Rafael Nadal announced that 2024 could be his last professional year on the tour, Djokovic’s family hinted that the Serbian legend could retire early.
Having recently surpassed the all-time Grand Slam record and won the most weeks as the best player in tennis history, Djokovic seemed unstoppable. However, his hopes of winning an unprecedented 24th Major were dashed in a devastating defeat in the Wimbledon final against Carlos Alcaraz. After the defeat, Djokovic’s family spoke openly about his possible retirement.
As we reported earlier, in a documentary entitled “Novak Djokovic – Untold Stories”, Djokovic’s mother, Dijana, revealed that her son feels he has achieved “everything” in tennis and would be happy to retire immediately. “Everything depends on him. As far as I’m concerned, he can retire right now – he’s already won everything” she said. His mother’s words suggest the possibility of an early departure from sport.
Adding fuel to the speculation, Djokovic’s father, Srdan, expressed his own desire to retire in 2024, aligning himself with the same year that Nadal might say goodbye to professional tennis. Srdan Djokovic emphasized that tennis is just one segment of his son’s life and that he hopes to see him recognized for his achievements beyond the sport. “I hope he will be recognized for the things he does after his career is over, after he leaves the tennis world, which I hope will happen next year,” he said.
Despite the talk of retirement, Djokovic remains an active and successful player. Having recently missed the 2022 US Open due to Covid restrictions, he is determined to return to New York this year. However, he withdrew from the preparation event in Toronto claiming fatigue, sparking further discussion about his physical and mental challenges in the sport.
As Djokovic approaches his mid-thirties, the question of his retirement becomes more and more relevant. With the 2024 season potentially being Nadal’s last, this adds an extra layer of intrigue to the fate of the last member of the iconic “Big Three”.
The tennis world has already said goodbye to Roger Federer, who retired in September last year, leaving fans processing the departure of one legendary player after another. Now the spotlight is on Djokovic, who has achieved most of his goals and left an indestructible mark on the sport.
Although fans hope that Djokovic will continue to compete and add more titles to his illustrious career, the final decision rests with the Serbian star. While rumors spread and uncertainty persists, one thing is certain: tennis enthusiasts around the world will be following Djokovic’s journey closely, eagerly awaiting his next step on and off the court.