Novak Djokovic has hinted at retirement after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final, joking that he does not have '10 more years' left in the sport. The 38-year-old Serb was aiming to become the first player to win 25 Grand Slam singles titles but fell short, losing 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to the young Spaniard.
Alcaraz, 22, became the youngest man in history to complete the career Grand Slam, breaking Rafael Nadal’s previous record. The victory also means that the last nine men's Grand Slam titles have been won by either Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner, underlining Djokovic's fading dominance. His last Major triumph came at the 2023 US Open.
In his on-court speech, Djokovic congratulated Alcaraz, calling his achievement 'historic' and 'legendary'. He then quipped: 'You are so young, you have a lot of time, like myself. I am sure we will be seeing a lot of each other over the next 10 years… not!' The comment drew laughter from the crowd but also fuelled speculation about his future.
Djokovic thanked his team and the fans, saying: 'I didn’t think I would be standing at the closing ceremony of a Grand Slam again. God knows what happens tomorrow, let alone six or 12 months. It has been a great ride.' Alcaraz paid tribute to Djokovic, calling him an inspiration not just for tennis but for all athletes.
Despite the defeat, Djokovic remains undeterred in his pursuit of a record 25th Major title. However, with the rise of Alcaraz and Sinner, the Serbian’s path to more Grand Slam glory appears increasingly challenging.
