EMMA STOREY: When Novak Djokovic finally got his hands on Olympic gold at Paris 2024, for me it was the beginning of the end. The emotion spilled out of him as the statistically proven GOAT secured the only major accolade that had always eluded him – and I think part of me was surprised he didn’t call it a day there and then.
The man himself has spent much of this year denying any talk of retirement, despite the emotional farewells to both Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal. But when long-time friend Juan Martin del Potro brought him to Argentina for the final match of his career, Djokovic’s pre-event interview really stuck with me: “I am a bit sad because my greatest rivals have left. A part of me, in terms of tennis, also leaves with them.”
To me, Djokovic isn’t a man who’ll want to prolong his career at all costs, particularly when he’s seen what the ravages of injury have done to his greatest rivals at the end. While he surprised many with his decision to add Murray to his coaching team for the 2025 Australian Open, to me it feels like a determination to go out on top with another Major or two in his pocket, both for personal satisfaction and to gently remind the new generation of Alcaraz and Sinner that they’ve got a long way to go. In my opinion, we’ll see a retirement announcement sometime this summer—possibly even sooner, if he secures an 11th title in Melbourne.
Stay tuned for Thursday’s question: Which under-21 player will have the best 2025 season?
