Novak Djokovic shares honest reflection on his retirement after a poor string of results in 2025
Novak Djokovic failed to progress beyond the opening round of tournaments this year except for the Australian Open and Miami Open.
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Novak Djokovic (Image via Univers Tennis)
Novak Djokovic recently gave an interview to Business Traveler, where he reflected on the role tennis has played and continues to play in his life. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is currently going through a whirlwind period in his tennis career as he withdrew from the Italian Open. He is also in a title drought, having won only the Olympic gold last year.
As Djokovic turns 38 this month, critics and tennis enthusiasts often feel that perhaps it is now time for the Serb to hang up his racquet. Djokovic, however, still feels the drive inside him to push a bit more and aim for his 100th ATP title.
Clearly, nowadays it is challenging for me to achieve the results I used to when I was at my peak. That doesn’t mean I can never do it again, but that greatness changes form, and that’s because you are a different person every year, every month, every week. Tennis is a sport where you need to cultivate the mindset that it’s never enough. Once it’s enough, then you have to set the racket aside. And I still… I still don’t feel it’s enough for me.
Novak Djokovic via Business Traveler
He came close once this year to achieving that dream, at the Miami Open, where he lost to Jakub Mensik in the finals in two thrilling tiebreaks. Only two players in the Open Era have more ATP titles than Djokovic—Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer. Connors leads with 109 titles, and Federer follows with 103.
Novak Djokovic speaks about what parenthood means for him
It seems certain that many avenues will be open to Novak Djokovic when retirement does finally come. As an astute, articulate, and multilingual analyst of the game, he would surely be a highly sought-after coach, commentator, tournament head, or tennis academy head.
When I became a parent for the first time, I had a very strong feeling to one day have my son, and of course later on also my daughter, watch me play, particularly at Wimbledon. And for them to be old enough to realize what’s going on and what their father is doing. I’ve been more than blessed to experience that and relive it multiple times. And I’m happy and proud to say that my son’s favorite tournament is Wimbledon. He’s absolutely ecstatic every time we go and he just loves being there. So yeah, it’s constantly about finding new ways to inspire yourself. Because at the end of the day, that’s what gets you up in the morning.
Novak Djokovic added
However, when asked if anything outside of competitive tennis gives him a similar buzz, Djokovic mentioned parenthood. He and his wife, Jelena, have two children of their own—Stefan, 10, and Tara, 7. For Djokovic, it is a huge motivating factor for him to be able to play in front of them.
Novak Djokovic withdraws from Italian Open
Novak Djokovic, so far on the clay swing, had disappointing campaigns. He lost his opening round matches in straight sets in the Monte Carlo Masters and Madrid Open to Alejandro Tabilo and Matteo Arnaldi, respectively. Shortly after his Madrid Open exit, Djokovic announced a shocking decision to pull out of the Italian Open, which is scheduled to commence on May 7.
Djokovic, the six-time Italian Open champion, will miss the tournament for the first time since making his debut in 2007. He won his maiden Italian Open title in 2008, where he defeated Stan Wawrinka in the finals.
His last title in the Italian capital came in 2022 when he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the finals. Major headlines this year at the tournament will be on Jannik Sinner, who will return to tour with this event after his three-month suspension ends.
Djokovic’s 2025 season overall has been pretty rough except for the Miami Open. He has failed to progress beyond the opening round of other tournaments this year except for the Australian Open.
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