Novak Djokovic retirement theory emerges before Australian Open final | Tennis | Sport
Former British No.1 Greg Rusedski does not believe Novak Djokovic will retire if he beats Carlos Alcaraz to win Sunday’s Australian Open final. The 38-year-old is looking to become the oldest man in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam singles title as he seeks a first major since the 2023 US Open.
Djokovic is already the oldest man in the Open Era to reach an Aussie Open final after stunning two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in Friday’s thrilling semi-final. The veteran Serb had lost his previous five meetings and nine sets to the world No. 2, but put on a vintage display to stun the Italian.
The 10-time former champion will now need to muster another heroic performance to deny Alcaraz, 22, from becoming the youngest male player to complete the Career Grand Slam. The Spaniard fought through a similarly epic last four clash on Friday – beating Alexander Zverev in the longest-ever Aussie Open semi-final in five hours and 27 minutes.
Victory on Rod Laver Arena this weekend would see Djokovic clinch a standalone record 25th Grand Slam singles title – moving him one clear of Margaret Court. It would also see him equal the Aussie as an 11-time champion at the tournament he first won in 2008.
But speaking on the Off Court with Greg podcast, Rusedski does not believe Djokovic will sail off into the sunset if he wins at Melbourne Park on Sunday. The 1997 US Open finalist raised the Serb’s ambition to compete at the 2028 LA Olympics as a reason why he is unlikely to hang up his racket any time soon.
He said: “I don’t think it’s [retirement] crossing his mind. He’s just trying to win another major and if he can win the Australian Open, why can’t he win Wimbledon? That’s where most people think his best chances.
“Novak will make the decisions for himself. He’s already talked about being ready for the Olympics coming up, you know, having gotten the gold medal finally in Paris, which he did two years ago, which was big on his list.
“So no, I don’t think he’s going to retire. Maybe it’ll be the storybook ending everybody would want, but I think he believes there’s more in the tank.”
Rusedski also refuses to rule out Djokovic from shocking the tennis world again by beating world No. 1 Alcaraz. The 52-year-old references another tennis legend, 14-time Grand Slam winner Pete Sampras, as an example.
He added: “I once wrote off [Pete] Sampras and he went all the way and won the US Open, so I will never make that mistake again. Never discount the greats. These great champions have something a little bit extra and health is your wealth and he just proved the world wrong.
“I guarantee you there’s almost nobody who picked Djokovic to win that match. Everybody’s favourite for the tournament was Sinner. I think this just makes for the most intriguing men’s final we’ve had in a long time. It’s been over two years now since Novak has been in a major final and to do so down under, it is his favourite Slam.”
