Novak Djokovic retirement prediction made as former world No 1 issues verdict
Former doubles world No 1 Rennae Stubbs has predicted that Novak Djokovic could call time on his legendary tennis career at the Australian Open.
Djokovic was beaten in straight sets by eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the semi-final of Wimbledon last week, with the Serbian appearing to be hampered by an injury issue sustained in his quarter-final.
The former world No 1 claimed the injury began to trouble him during the first set of his 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 loss, though after the match denied rumours it was his final appearance at the All England Club.
“I would be sad, but hopefully it’s not my last match on the Centre Court. I’m not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today,” said Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion.
“So I’m planning to come back definitely at least one more time, play on the Centre Court for sure.”
Despite Djokovic’s insistence that he will return to Wimbledon in 2026, questions about his long-term future have lingered in recent days.
Tennis legend John McEnroe questioned how willing the 38-year-old would be to remain a “notch or two” below the likes of Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, and now six-time doubles Slam winner Stubbs has had her say.
Speaking on the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, the Australian suggested that Djokovic could call time on his career at the Australian Open, where he has won 10 of his 24 Grand Slam titles.
“I think he has sort of hinted that the last Grand Slam will be the Australian Open,” said Stubbs.
“And I think the reason for that is because it has been his most successful, winning it [10] times.
“I think it’s not a bad way for him to go out if he decides to. It has clearly been the best place for him to win a Grand Slam. If he can get to 25, that is probably where he is going to do it.
“I thought his best chance was at Wimbledon, that has slipped away, but I think he probably almost feels that the Australian has been so mercurial in his life, he has had so many dramatic moments in his life, where he was treated very poorly by the Australian government.
“So it’s an interesting dichotomy, but I think that is where he wants to finish his career, and that is where I think probably will be his last Grand Slam.”
Tennis News
ATP Rankings battle for No 1 spot: When could Carlos Alcaraz overtake Jannik Sinner at the top?
Jannik Sinner and Darren Cahill make coaching confession after Wimbledon title triumph
Djokovic’s 10 Australian Open singles titles are a record for a male or female player in the Open Era, with the Serbian winning his first major title at the tournament back in 2008.
The Serbian then won three straight titles from 2011-13 and back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016, before further triumphs from 2019-21, and his most recent triumph in 2023.
Djokovic was beaten in the 2024 semi-final by eventual champion Sinner, his first defeat in an Australian Open semi-final, while he retired injured at the same stage versus Alexander Zverev this January.
Alongside Sinner, the 38-year-old is one of just two men to reach the last four of every Grand Slam tournament this season, though he was also beaten by the Italian in straight sets at Roland Garros.
Djokovic currently looks set to return to action at the Canadian Open, with the 38-year-old on the provisional entry list released this week.
He is a four-time champion at the tournament, but has not competed at the event since a third-round defeat back in 2018.
