Jimmy Connors says what must happen before Novak Djokovic even thinks about retiring from tennis
Novak Djokovic will continue his search for a 100th tour-level title after narrowly missing out at the Shanghai Masters.
Djokovic sent his congratulations to Jannik Sinner after their Shanghai Masters final, which the Italian won in straight sets.
The Serbian was also chasing a record-extending fifth title at the event, but Djokovic has now moved on to the Six Kings Slam.
Sinner is also in Riyadh for the event, along with the likes of Spanish duo Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.
The lucrative tournament will represent one of Nadal’s final appearances on the court, with the 22-time Grand Slam champion retiring next month.
Jimmy Connors makes Novak Djokovic retirement claim
He is behind only Djokovic in total Grand Slam titles in the Open Era, with the Serbian veteran sitting on 24.
Just one year younger than Nadal, the Serbian has not yet hinted at retirement, with tennis legend Jimmy Connors sharing his thoughts on the likelihood of Djokovic calling it a day.
“It’s hard to me to say he has had a drop in motivation because he does everything over the course of his day to make him as good as can be,” he said on the latest episode of Advantage Connors. “With his training and his eating, everything about his day is centred around tennis and being as good as he can be.
“I am trying to say it the right way. Getting older is getting older. You have a lot of the young guys who are seeing maybe he’s not what he used to be, that old grey mare. A little vulnerable. He’s not quite playing up to the standard we are used to seeing.
“But he has got the kind of game I like. He has a good return, aggressive return. I am not counting him out ever. He has got guts, the game, intensity. He is like Nadal, he’s not going to go out there unless he is ready to play.
“We talk Sinner and Alcaraz but the only way he is going to say it’s time for me to go is if some of those other guys start stepping up too, or else he will keep hanging, and what’s wrong with that?”
When will Novak Djokovic follow Rafael Nadal into retirement?
Djokovic and Nadal know each other’s games inside out, having battled it out on the court for several years now.
But the Serbian will miss those exciting encounters when the Spaniard finally hangs up his racket next month.
The messages of support have been pouring in for Nadal, who is set to retire from tennis at the end of the Davis Cup Finals.
He will represent Spain on home soil in Malaga, where he will be joined by four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz.
Djokovic meanwhile will still be getting over his Shanghai Masters final loss to Sinner, but he is likely to bounce back very quickly.
The 37-year-old undoubtedly still has plenty to give to the sport, and doesn’t look like slowing down anytime soon.
He will be full of motivation in 2025, with 2024 representing his first season without at least one Grand Slam title since 2017.
