Was that Novak Djokovic’s Last Australian Open? The Grand Slam King Isn’t Ready to Say

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday January 24, 2025

Novak Djokovic’s bid for a document twenty fifth main title led to heartbreaking trend because the Grand Slam king was compelled to tug the plug after a set in opposition to Alexander Zverev as a result of a muscle tear in his left leg.

However 37-year-old Djokovic continues to be taking some positives from his run to the semifinals.

“I really thought I performed rather well, in addition to I performed the final 12 months, to be trustworthy,” he stated. “I favored my possibilities if I used to be bodily, yeah, match and able to battle. I favored my possibilities at this time. Who is aware of? In fact, it was by no means going to be a straightforward battle, a straightforward match for me…

“However as I stated, I feel I used to be putting the ball very effectively. Numerous positives to take when it comes to how I performed semifinals. It is an excellent outcome contemplating the circumstances. But it surely’s not satisfying to me, you already know, for my requirements. I at all times search for the very best objective, to succeed in the finals and combat for a trophy.”

It is a robust method to begin the season, however Djokovic believes he can win extra majors offered that he can get wholesome, and keep wholesome.

“I will hold going,” he stated. “You realize, I will hold striving to win extra slams. And so long as I really feel that I wish to put up with all of this, I will be round.”

Djokovic confirmed the character of his harm and stated that he simply wasn’t in a position to get well in time. Identified for his exceptional restoration powers, Djokovic has already lifted two Australian Open trophies after enduring severe accidents. This 12 months, he was not in a position to summon the magic, nonetheless.

“It is a muscle tear,” Djokovic stated. “Two years in the past, you already know, I’ve managed it higher. On the court docket it did not hassle me as a lot. This time that wasn’t the case. So in these sorts of cases I suppose you attempt to do as a lot as you probably can within the shortest period of time, and that was the case.

“I had an additional day, so two days no match. So I believed it should be adequate perhaps. However yeah, that wasn’t the case, sadly.”

Although upset, the Serbian legend vows to soldier on in 2025 within the hunt for extra Grand Slam glory. However he was not prepared to say he’d be again in Australia in 2026. Requested if he may need performed his remaining match in Melbourne he stated:

“There’s a likelihood. Who is aware of? I will simply should see how the season goes. I wish to hold going. However whether or not I’ll have a revised schedule or not for the subsequent 12 months, I am undecided.

“I usually like to come back to Australia to play. I’ve had the most important success in my profession right here. So if I am match, wholesome, motivated, I do not see a motive why I would not come.”

As for the quick future, Djokovic plans to play Doha subsequent month, however he isn’t positive he’ll be match sufficient to try this.

“I nonetheless have Doha match in a couple of weeks’ time that’s scheduled,” he stated. “Whether or not I’ll play it or not, it actually does rely on how rapidly I get well. However I had success with fast recoveries prior to now. Let’s examine. It simply is dependent upon the muscle and the way it responds to the therapy.”