Serbia’s Novak Djokovic speaks after receiving the runner-up defend following his defeat to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz within the men’s singles remaining on Day 15 of the Australian Open tennis event in Melbourne on February 1, 2026. — AFP
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic leaves the Australian Open nonetheless caught on 24 Grand Slam titles and with contemporary doubts about what number of extra tries he may have at profitable an outright-record twenty fifth.
The 38-year-old has persistently dismissed speak of retirement and stated he’s eyeing the defence of his Olympic gold on the Los Angeles Video games in 2028.
However after dropping to Carlos Alcaraz in 4 units within the remaining on Sunday, the Serb instructed he is probably not again in Melbourne.
“God knows what happens tomorrow, let alone in six months or 12 months,” he informed the gang at Rod Laver Enviornment.
“So it has been a great ride. I love you guys.”
Djokovic has received a document 10 Australian Opens and till Sunday had by no means misplaced a remaining there.
However for all his success, Djokovic has not all the time had a straightforward relationship with the Melbourne followers.
“I want to just say in the end that you guys, particularly the last couple of matches, gave me something that I have never experienced in Australia,” he stated.
“That much love, support, positivity. I tried to give you back with good tennis over the years.”
It had the ring of a farewell speech and didn’t seem to have been simply an emotional response to defeat.
He stated he had ready two speeches, one for profitable and the opposite for dropping.
Faltering document
Djokovic received his twenty fourth Grand Slam title on the US Open in 2023, drawing him stage with the Australian Margaret Court docket on the prime of the all-time listing.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts after a degree towards Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz throughout their males’s singles remaining match on day fifteen of the Australian Open tennis event in Melbourne on February 1, 2026. — AFP
However age and accidents, plus the emergence of world primary Alcaraz and quantity two Jannik Sinner, have left him unable to win one other.
Earlier than Sunday, his earlier Grand Slam remaining had been in 2024, when he misplaced the Wimbledon decider, once more to Alcaraz.
Final 12 months he reached the semi-finals of all 4 majors however received no additional, with Alcaraz and Sinner sharing the spoils.
He rolled again the years to defeat Sinner — 14 years his junior — in a five-set semi-final marathon in Melbourne.
However after Djokovic received the primary set, the 22-year-old Alcaraz took a stranglehold on the ultimate to brush to victory 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.
Underlining the place Djokovic is now within the pecking order of males’s tennis, he admitted he had not anticipated to achieve one other main remaining.
‘I all the time imagine’
If the previous world primary was going to win that elusive twenty fifth, he might replicate that he has seen his greatest remaining probability come and go.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic holds up his trophy after defeat within the males´s singles remaining match towards Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz on day fifteen of the Australian Open tennis event in Melbourne on February 1, 2026. — AFP
He’s the undisputed king of Melbourne Park and Rod Laver Enviornment is the court docket the place he has had essentially the most success.
The fourth seed loved two large items of luck in reaching the semi-finals.
Djokovic loved free passage by way of the fourth spherical when Jakub Mensik pulled out with harm.
He was then dealing with defeat at two units all the way down to Lorenzo Musetti, just for the Italian fifth seed to retire injured.
He rolled again the years to beat Sinner and make the ultimate, however a repeat success so quickly after taking part in 5 units was past him.
“Overall, for sure it’s been a fantastic tournament,” he stated.
“I knew that I’d probably have to beat two of them (Alcaraz and Sinner) on the way to the title.
“I beat one, which is nice, so it is a step extra additional than I’ve gone in Grand Slams than final 12 months.
“Very nice, encouraging. But, you know, not enough for me.”
So what subsequent for one of many all-time greats?
For no matter time is left, he will not surrender on that twenty fifth Grand Slam crown, even when the percentages are actually stacked towards him.
“I always believe I can,” Djokovic stated about lastly eclipsing Court docket.
“Otherwise, I wouldn’t be competing.”
