Tennis Insider Shares Novak Djokovic’s Retirement Plans Which Won’t Be ‘Abrupt’

Novak Djokovic will be playing at the Adelaide International, where he won titles in 2007 and 2023.

Tennis Insider Shares Novak Djokovic’s Retirement Plans Which Won’t Be ‘Abrupt’

Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Jose Morgado)

Novak Djokovic has time and again made it clear that he doesn’t want to hang up his racket in the near future. Recently, during the World Sports Summit, the Serb repeated that he plans to end the most glorious chapter of his life at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Sport Klub and Clay journalist Sasa Ozmo thinks Djokovic won’t be abruptly retiring and would rather announce it beforehand, unlike Rafael Nadal. In 2024, Nadal, due to fitness problems, decided to finally call it quits and played his career’s last match in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup Finals, where eventual runners-up Netherlands’ Botic Van de Zandschulp beat him in straight sets.

Knowing Novak, he’ll do his best to have a farewell tour, to maybe go to some of the places he didn’t visit as a player that much, and go to some of the places that were his favourite tournaments. I don’t expect it to be a full year, let’s say a retirement year, like [NBA great] Kobe Bryant had, for example, but a few tournaments; I don’t expect it to be abrupt.

Sasa Ozmo told Express Sport

Djokovic, right after his Grand Slam defeats last year, did or said something that led many to guess he would soon be retiring. He kissed the clay court of Roland Garros after his semifinal defeat to eventual runner-up Jannik Sinner, due to which, many thought he was hinting at a possible retirement.

Next Major is the Australian Open, where the 24-time Grand Slam champion will be chasing his 11th title in the event. The last time he won the Melbourne Major was in 2023 by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The main draw of the Australian Open will start on January 18. But before the first Major of the season, Djokovic will be featuring at the Adelaide International, set to begin on January 12. The former World No.1 competed at the ATP 250 event twice, in 2007 and 2023, winning both times.

Paul Annacone on whether Novak Djokovic can win another Grand Slam title

The last Grand Slam title that Novak Djokovic lifted was the 2024 US Open by defeating Daniil Medvedev. After that win, only once has the Serb made a Grand Slam final, at the 2024 Wimbledon, losing that match to Carlos Alcaraz.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/AllAboutHQ)

Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz, in fact, were the reasons behind his defeat in five Majors since 2024. The World No.2 defeated him in the semifinals of the 2024 Australian Open, 2025 Wimbledon, and the 2025 French Open. Alcaraz defeated him at the 2024 Wimbledon and the 2025 US Open.

Can Djokovic win another Major? Roger Federer‘s former coach, Paul Annacone, thinks it will be nothing but tough for Nole to emerge as champion at this stage of his career.

My heart says yes, but my head says no. I think it’s getting tougher and tougher. The ageless Novak will have to go through a lot of great players, and I think seven best-of-five match wins to capture a 25th major title may be a bridge too far. But bet against him at your peril: legends are the exception, not the rule.

Paul Annacone told Tennis365

Djokovic finished the last season with two titles, both ATP 250s, which he lifted at the Geneva Open and the Hellenic Championship, by beating Hubert Hurkacz and Lorenzo Musetti, respectively. The 38-year-old also reached the final of the Miami Open, but Jakub Mensik denied him his record-extending 41st ATP Finals title.

Djokovic skipped the 2025 ATP Finals and finished the season as World No.4. The last Big Title that Djokovic lifted was the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal by defeating Alcaraz.

Also read: Serena Williams’ Former Coach Reveals What He Hopes Coco Gauff Will Achieve This Season