Novak Djokovic hints at French Open farewell, unsure of future beyond 2025

India Today

a day ago

At 38, Novak Djokovic went toe-to-toe with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the men's singles semi-final of the French Open on Friday. The 24-time Grand Slam champion summoned his best on Court Philippe-Chatrier, but it wasn't enough against Sinner, who delivered a flawless performance on the big stage. Djokovic lost a fiercely contested match in straight sets — 4-6, 5-7, 6-7 (3) after 3 hours and 16 minutes of high-intensity tennis.advertisementDjokovic appeared emotional at the end of the exhausting encounter. Before making his way off the court, the Serb set down his kitbag and waved to the crowd, thanking them for their support. In a poignant gesture, he bent down and touched the Parisian clay, perhaps hinting that this could have been his final match at Roland Garros.The moment left fans wondering, until Djokovic addressed the gesture in his post-match press conference. The three-time French Open champion admitted he may not return to Paris next year.
"This could have been the last match I ever play here, I don't know. That's why it was a bit more emotional at the end," he said.Novak. Djokovic.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/KhCeAsR016— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2025"But if this was my farewell match at Roland Garros, it was a wonderful one — the atmosphere and the support from the crowd were incredible.advertisementSinner vs Djokovic semi-final Highlights"Do I wish to keep playing? Yes, I do. But will I be able to return in 12 months' time? I'm not sure. That's all I can say for now."WIMBLEDON, US OPEN IN DJOKOVIC'S PLANSDjokovic has not won a Grand Slam title since his triumph in New York in 2023. He reached the Wimbledon final last year, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz. He later beat the Spaniard at the Paris Olympics to win gold on the Philippe-Chatrier court.Many expected Djokovic to hit top form after the Olympics, but the Serb has since struggled with fitness and form. He endured one of his toughest clay seasons in recent memory, falling in the second round at both the Monte Carlo and Madrid Masters 1000 events. He did manage to win an ATP 250 title in Geneva just ahead of Roland Garros.There were flashes of vintage Djokovic when he delivered a tactical masterclass to defeat third seed Alexander Zverev in four sets in the quarter-final. However, he was ultimately undone by Sinner's sharp, clinical display in the semi-final.Djokovic is still chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, but it now seems he may not continue pushing his body much longer in pursuit of that goal.advertisementHe confirmed he intends to play Wimbledon next month and the US Open later this year, though his plans beyond the current season remain unclear. He also mentioned the possibility of returning to Australia, where he has won 10 of his 24 major titles."Those tournaments are the priorities on my schedule," Djokovic said."Wimbledon and the US Open. Yes, they're in the plans. That's all I can say for now. I feel I want to play those two, certainly. For the rest, I'm not so sure.""Wimbledon has always been my childhood favourite. I'll do everything I can to get myself ready.My best chances may be at Wimbledon or perhaps in Australia," he added.Djokovic is now the last remaining member of the Big Three that redefined men's tennis over the past two decades. Roger Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam winner, retired in 2022, while Rafael Nadal, who claimed 22 majors, stepped away from professional tennis last year.