Novak Djokovic’s Retirement: Tennis Legend’s Future Hinges on One Goal
Novak Djokovic’s recent defeat in the Miami Open final has reignited questions about his future in tennis—especially after the world No. 5 revealed his father has been urging him to consider retirement.
Despite falling short in Miami, 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic shows no signs of stepping away just yet. According to former Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli, the Serb’s retirement won’t come until he reaches a historic milestone: a 25th Grand Slam title.
“For me, that desire to win everything—you see it in his eyes,” Bartoli said. “He wants to finish with 25 Grand Slams, to stand alone at the top. I don’t think he’ll stop until he gets that.”
Djokovic currently holds more Grand Slam titles than any man in the Open Era, tied at 24 with Margaret Court for the all-time record. Court, however, earned 13 of her titles before the Open Era began.
Although he remains a dominant force in tennis, Djokovic’s performances in recent months have prompted retirement speculation. At 37, he has experienced earlier-than-usual exits, including a surprising loss at the US Open and a rare three-match losing streak earlier this year.
He’s also faced physical setbacks, undergoing meniscus surgery last June and retiring mid-match at the Australian Open in January due to a muscle tear.
Still, Djokovic has delivered strong performances, including his long-awaited Olympic gold medal in Paris and a recent victory over Carlos Alcaraz on the way to the Australian Open semi-final. He also reached the final in Miami, where he lost to 19-year-old Jakub Mensik in straight tiebreak sets, struggling with humidity and a swollen eye.
Speaking to GQ, Djokovic acknowledged his father’s wishes. “My dad is trying to retire me,” he admitted with a laugh. “But he’s not pushy. He respects my decision to keep going. He understands why I want to, but also sees the toll it takes.”
Srdjan Djokovic, concerned for his son’s long-term health and well-being, has encouraged Novak to begin thinking about how he wants to end his career. “He’s like, ‘My son, start to think about how you want to end this.’”
As Djokovic eyes a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam and his 100th career title, fans and family alike are left wondering how much longer the tennis legend will continue his pursuit of greatness.
