Novak Djokovic Shares Hints of Retirement Plans After Losing the Australian Open Final
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in four sets to win his first Australian Open in Melbourne.
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Novak Djokovic (via IMAGN.com)
Novak Djokovic teased retirement at the Australian Open after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the championship match on Sunday (February 1). The 38-year-old held a 10-0 record in the Melbourne Grand Slam final, but was handed his first loss by the Spaniard despite winning the first round of the match.
Djokovic’s last Grand Slam came at the US Open in 2023 after beating Daniil Medvedev in the final. The 24-time major champion had reached the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams last season but was unable to make the next step. At the 2026 Australian Open, he tried taking the next step by reaching the final for the first time in three years.
But Djokovic couldn’t secure the title as he fell to Alcaraz in four sets. He had won the opening set and was looking like the match winner, but Alcaraz regrouped in the second set, increasing the intensity of his game, while hitting excellent drop shots that confused Djokovic on several occasions at the Rod Laver Arena.
After winning the second set in less than 45 minutes, Alcaraz found the willpower to control the match, beating Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to complete a career Grand Slam after three hours and five minutes at Melbourne Park. He became the youngest player in the men’s circuit to complete a career Grand Slam.
Djokovic, who was seeking to become the oldest player to win the Australian Open, was disappointed after the match. During his post-match speech at the Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic appreciated his effort for making it into the final before failing to say his usual see you next year to the crowd:
Honestly, I always believe in myself and that is something that is truly needed when you are playing against incredible players like Carlos and Jannik [Sinner] over the past three days. But I have to be honest and say I did not think I would be standing here in the closing ceremony, so I have to thank you for pushing me forward in the last couple of weeks. God knows what happens tomorrow, let alone in six or 12 months, but it has been a great ride. I love you guys.
Djokovic is expected to climb from World No.4 to No.3 in the ATP rankings. Alexander Zverev, who occupied the World No.3, will drop below Djokovic after failing to defend his last year’s runners-up finish. He lost to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals in five sets, despite producing a good fight back after going down two sets.
Novak Djokovic maintains he holds his ambition to win his 25th Grand Slam
Novak Djokovic was seeking to win his 25th Grand Slam at the Australian Open, which would have made him the first player in the Open Era to achieve that tally. He’s currently tied with Margaret Court at 24 majors. He hopes to get another chance this season, like the one he got at the Melbourne Grand Slam.
During his press conference, he was asked whether he still aspires to win his 25th Grand Slam before retirement. The 38-year-old admitted that he still believes that more major success lies ahead following his dramatic five-set win against Jannik Sinner and four-set loss against Carlos Alcaraz:
I always believe I can. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be competing, and I said this numerous times. It’s great that I was able to beat Jannik in five and really battle Carlos in four close sets. I remain disappointed with the way I felt in second and third after an incredible start, and I felt great about myself and then things changed.
Djokovic quietened his doubters on Friday (January 30) after producing one of the performances of ages to beat Sinner in five sets. He had lost to an Italian star in five consecutive matches and 10 successive sets before ending the one-sided rivalry in the past two years at Melbourne Park.
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