Ex-WTA Pro Reveals Novak Djokovic Was ‘Not Happy’ About US Open Organizers’ ‘This’ Decision

Former World No.1 Novak Djokovic last lifted a Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open.

Ex-WTA Pro Reveals Novak Djokovic Was ‘Not Happy’ About US Open Organizers’ ‘This’ Decision

Novak Djokovic (Image via X/ The Tennis Letter)

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Novak Djokovic‘s Grand Slam campaigns this season have ended in disappointment. Although he played every semifinal, he couldn’t reach the final. At the Australian Open, he had to retire mid-match against Alexander Zverev because of an injury.

Jannik Sinner knocked him out in straight sets at the French Open and Wimbledon, while Carlos Alcaraz ended his campaign at the US Open with a straight-set win. Earlier in the tournament in New York, when Djokovic saw his schedule, it irked him, according to Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup captain Nicole Pratt. His second-round match against Zachary Svajda was scheduled at 11:30 am.

The schedule came out, and he was first on at 11. He’d never been first in 15 years, let me tell you, he was not happy.

Nicole Pratt said on The Tennis podcast

Djokovic, however, played in the evening session for the rest of the tournament, except for his semifinal match against Alcaraz. It was Djokovic’s first defeat to the Spaniard after two back-to-back wins.

The last time the Serb lifted a Big Title was at the 2024 Paris Olympics by defeating Alcaraz, and later he knocked him out in the quarterfinals of this year’s Australian Open. Djokovic now holds a 5-4 head-to-head record over the six-time Grand Slam champion, who, after beating Nole, denied Sinner his second US Open title with a four-set win in the final.

Rennae Stubbs thinks Novak Djokovic will retire at the Australian Open

It was at the Australian Open back in 2008 that Novak Djokovic defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to clinch his career’s first Grand Slam title. He went on to lift the title nine more times- now holds the most Australian Open titles in the history of the tournament. And this is why Serena Williams‘ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, thinks that when Djokovic plans to hang up his racket, he should retire in Melbourne.

Novak Djokovic (via X/The Tennis Letter)
Novak Djokovic (via X/The Tennis Letter)

I feel like the Australian Open is going to be his last major tournament to play. I don’t think he wants to keep playing after that and has to go through the French Open. He is so good on every surface, but I can’t see him beating these guys over five sets on clay, and then going to Wimbledon again.

Rennae Stubbs said on the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast

The last time Djokovic won the Melbourne Slam was in 2023 by denying Stefanos Tsitsipas his first Major. Last year, Jannik Sinner knocked him out in the semifinals.

I feel like the Australian Open would be a great way to finish his career. It’s where his Grand Slam titles started. We know the mercurial side to the Australian Open and what it has meant to him. It has been love or hate, which seems perfect for his career in a lot of ways.

Rennae Stubbs added

Due to this US Open performance, Djokovic climbed to the fourth position in the rankings. He would’ve removed Alexander Zverev from the third spot had he clinched the US Open.

It’s uncertain which tournament Djokovic is going to play next. Last year, after the US Open, he featured at the Shanghai Masters, where Sinner defeated him in the final. The 38-year-old didn’t participate in the ATP Finals.

The Shanghai Masters was Djokovic’s last event of the 2024 season. Djokovic, however, will be playing the Hellenic Championship, an ATP  250 event in Athens. The first edition of the tournament is scheduled to take place from November 2 to 8.

Djokovic last lifted a Major at the 2023 US Open, and since then, he has only once played a Grand Slam final (2024 Wimbledon). This season, he has played two finals and clinched the Geneva Open.

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