‘I don't know': Novak Djokovic's reply to Nick Kyrgios' question on why is he still playing

Indian Express

4 days ago

Novak Djokovic looked primed to go clear of Margaret Court and become the player with most Grand Slam singles titles ever when he had won the 2023 US Open. After all, he had won all but one Major tournament that year, something he had done in 2021 as well. Cut to July 2025 and Djokovic's tally of Grand Slam singles titles remains 24, having not been able to win another after the 2023 US Open.
Most of his runs have been stopped by either Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz, who have won all of the Majors that have been played since Djokovic's win at Flushing Meadows. Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios, who Djokovic beat in the 2022 Wimbledon final, has now said that the Serbian great has indicated to him that he might be coming to the end of his prolific career.
'I think he's got to be finished soon,' said Kyrgios on the All on the Table podcast. The 30-year-old said that Djokovic indicated in a recent conversation that he had of his desire to spend more time with his family. 'Like, come on, what more? I asked him this at Indian Wells this year. We were in the locker room and I said 'why are you here? Why are you playing?' He just goes 'I don't know.' I go 'what about your kids, I know you want to spend time with your family'. He said 'yeah, I don't know'. That was the first time I think he missed his family a lot,' he said.
'I can't see him playing for more than another year. Not again. Not the whole year again. He is so professional. I am just speaking from my experience if I had a family like his and kid,' he added.
Djokovic himself made quite a strong indication that 2025 might just be his last year on tour after his semi-final exit at the French Open this year. Speaking during the post-match press conference, Djokovic said, 'This could have been the last match ever I played here, so I don't know. That's why I was a bit more emotional even in the end.'
'If this was the farewell match of the Roland Garros for me in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd,' Djokovic added.
'Do I wish to play more? Yes, I do. But will I be able to play in 12 months here again? I don't know. That's all I can say for the moment,' he remarked.