Jimmy Connors makes feelings clear on Novak Djokovic and reveals why he is ‘rooting’ for the Serb
Former world No 1 Jimmy Connors has shared his honest thoughts on Novak Djokovic as he addressed the great Serb’s future in the sport after the 2025 Australian Open.
Djokovic was forced to retire due to an injury after losing the opening set of his Australian Open semi-final clash with Alexander Zverev.
The 37-year-old earned impressive victories over Tomas Machac, Jiri Lehecka and Carlos Alcaraz en route to the last four at Melbourne Park.
The world No 7 sustained a hamstring tear in the first set of his quarter-final showdown with Alcaraz.
Djokovic was vying to extend his records for the most Australian Open titles (10) and Grand Slam crowns (24).
Speaking on an episode of his Advantage Connors podcast, Connors weighed in on Djokovic’s campaign in Melbourne as he explained why he roots for his fellow tennis great.
“He had a tough draw. He had to play Alcaraz to play Zverev to play [Jannik] Sinner, if he wins. That is what happens if you are not in the top two, three or four,” said the eight-time Grand Slam champion.
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“Everybody thinks that I am going to play forever, and you can but it depends and what level you want to play at.
“The older you get, those long matches and tough points where you have to run after one extra ball, that starts wearing on you physically and mentally. Also your recuperating time after a long match doesn’t happen as quickly.
“But nobody is taking care of themselves better than Djokovic has. He does everything possible to make it possible for him to go and play the kind of tennis he wants to.
“But even doing that, there is one guy you can never beat, and that’s age. Age is going to catch up with everybody.
“I hate to talk about it because he has been, and still is, such a great champion – and [Roger] Federer and [Rafael] Nadal the same. And you get tired of talking about it: ‘When are you going to retire’. I did!
“I look at him and I root for him. I rooted for him because I liked his game, I liked the way he played, he tried to take the ball early and move forward and his return.
“I rooted for him then and I’m rooting for him now. I am all for a guy who is willing to go out there and do whatever it takes still to put it on the line and go for it. Don’t tell him when to quit, he will know when to quit and move on.
“But that is a tough decision because for 20 years, all of a sudden to wake up and say, ‘I am not going to do that any more’. That is a tough day to wake up.”
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