Former world No 1 questions if Novak Djokovic can still ‘enjoy’ tennis after US Open collapse
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Justine Henin has questioned if Novak Djokovic “can enjoy not being able to compete at the highest level” after his US Open exit.
Djokovic collapsed physically during a shock 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 defeat to world No 49 Mariano Navone in the first round at the 2026 US Open.
The 24-time major winner, who has revealed he is dealing with an unspecified physical issue, admitted he “despised” being on court.
“When it comes to match itself and the overall feeling of how I felt with my body and playing, it was really not enjoyable,” said the 39-year-old Serb.
“I pretty much despised every moment that I spent on the court for that.”
Speaking to Eurosport and HBO Max, Henin discussed what may be going through Djokovic’s head after his painful US Open loss.
“For sure, there are so many questions coming into Novak Djokovic’s head because he always had the resources in the past to deal with what he went through,” said the Belgian.
“But he has also talked in the past two years about the fact that he is not winning as much in the past; not winning Grand Slams anymore.
More US Open News
Novak Djokovic signs up for tennis tournament immediately after US Open exit
Want more from Tennis365? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for tennis coverage you can trust.
“He still plays for the majors. He still plays to make the history of the game in another way. He wants also to keep enjoying what he does, but can you really can enjoy the game not being able to compete at the highest level?
“He was still at a very high level for a long time. He didn’t lose the first round in the Grand Slam for 20 years. Will it change the way he can see things? It will depend also on how he physically he can react in the next few weeks, in the next few months.
“But probably it’s a process, a process that we don’t have access to think about his future — to accept that maybe the best is behind him and that there is another life also in the future.”
The former world No 1 went on to address the question of how much longer Djokovic will keep playing.
“It will be his timing. He cannot answer and we all have to accept it because it’s a process that is his own one. I don’t have the answer,” Henin continued.
“These champions, we always want to imagine in one way or another that they will live forever. They will remain legends, for sure, forever. We still want them to find some resources.
“It was hard with Roger [Federer]. It was also very hard with Rafa [Nadal], and it will be hard also in another way with Novak. So today, I’m a little bit more concerned than I was a few months ago.
“But in another way, there is nothing dramatic, no matter what he chooses in the next few months. I think tennis has a future and he will be a big part of the history of the game.
“It was a case of him trying to surpass himself one more time, getting these emotions also he’s looking for this with the crowd also.
“I think he wants to keep living this kind of emotions, but maybe with more joy in the future, so we will see.”
Watch the US Open on HBO Max and Eurosport (coverage in Europe excludes Austria, Italy, Germany, Spain, the UK and Ireland).
