Novak Djokovic faces a major decision over his tennis future after being knocked out of the US Open in the first round. The 39-year-old Serb lost in five sets to Mariano Navone, who sealed a 7-6 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 victory by dominating the closing stages.
Physical struggles in defeat
Djokovic went into the match as the overwhelming favourite but struggled physically and could not deliver when it mattered. He vomited several times and broke down in tears at one point, later suggesting he did not know how much longer he would continue his career.
The result marked his earliest Grand Slam exit since the Australian Open in 2006 and raised uncomfortable questions about his future, which now appears in doubt.
Decline since 2023
Djokovic has not won a Grand Slam since his title in New York in 2023. His physical decline over the past 12 months has been particularly concerning, with the veteran vomiting at several matches during that period.
As he gets older, his body appears to be giving up on him, and it is clear he is no longer the player he was in his prime.
Chasing one more title
The main argument for prolonging his career would be to chase one more Grand Slam title before stepping away. However, he has not come close for a long time. He reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon earlier this year but was outclassed by Jannik Sinner, who has emerged as the dominant player of the current generation alongside Carlos Alcaraz.
It seems unlikely that Djokovic will win another Grand Slam unless both players are injured or suffer early exits. Despite being considered the greatest player of all time, he is nowhere near their level, and that gap will only widen as time goes on.
Many still believe Djokovic is not completely finished, with some arguing he only needs a few strokes of luck to win further Grand Slam silverware. Where he goes from here remains to be seen, with his career at a crossroads after the painful defeat.
