Key Takeaways
- John McEnroe noted that “it seems like it’s gonna be soon” regarding Novak Djokovic’s retirement following a shocking five-set opening-round loss to Mariano Navone at the US Open.
- Djokovic admitted that “it was an awful feeling on the court for me” after struggling with vomiting along with back and shoulder issues during his earliest major exit since 2006.
- Despite speculation about his age, Djokovic maintained that “the only thing that at this moment, professionally speaking, I have in my vision is the Olympics of 2028 in Los Angeles.”
John McEnroe assesses Novak Djokovic after shocking US Open exit
Novak Djokovic’s tennis future has moved to the forefront of the sport following a stunning opening-round departure at the US Open. The 39-year-old Serbian, who has maintained in recent seasons that he possesses no firm timetable for walking away, suffered an unexpected five-set loss to Mariano Navone, falling 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 across four hours and 36 minutes. The setback represented his earliest exit at Flushing Meadows and his first opening-round loss at a Grand Slam tournament since 2006.
Speaking in New York prior to the men’s final, John McEnroe delivered a candid assessment of the former world No. 1. “On the one hand, one thinks that age is taking its toll, as happens to all athletes at some point. On the other hand, he has had an incredible streak,” McEnroe observed. The American tennis legend pointed out that Djokovic had defeated Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open, claimed the opening set in the final against Carlos Alcaraz, and advanced to the Wimbledon semifinals after beating Felix Auger-Aliassime.
“That made me think that, when I got to the US Open, he was probably the third or fourth best player in the world,” McEnroe explained. “So what we saw in the first round was shocking. As they say, time is invincible.”
Physical struggles and the question of timing
Djokovic encountered severe physical distress during his defeat to Navone, vomiting directly on the court while battling nagging complications with both his shoulder and his back. After establishing a 2-1 lead in sets, his movement and energy plummeted rapidly over the final two sets.
“I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me,” Djokovic acknowledged in the aftermath, noting that episodes of vomiting and lingering bodily strain had disrupted multiple matches throughout the current campaign.
When asked directly whether Djokovic could hang up his rackets by 2027, McEnroe suggested the finish line might arrive even sooner. “Well, you would certainly think so. He’s 39 for starters, you know, when it’s just way past most people’s expiration date and tennis, including mine,” McEnroe said. “You don’t want to get to a point and say, ‘Why did I stop when maybe I could have won more.’ That’s sort of what Novak’s facing. You got to the finals of Australia. He’s like, maybe I could win one more. Will he stop next year? It seems like it’s gonna be soon. You would think that’s a strong possibility, but we’ll have to wait and see.”
Los Angeles 2028 remains central to Djokovic’s plans
Despite McEnroe’s cautious outlook, Djokovic has continued to point toward long-term ambitions, centering his motivation on defending his Olympic title. Having secured his first gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by defeating Alcaraz in the final—an achievement he hailed as the summit of his athletic career—the 24-time major champion has openly targeted the 2028 Los Angeles Games, when he will be 41.
“That’s one of the long-term goals, to reach the Olympics. That would be nice,” Djokovic stated in March. His focus on that tournament has become an overriding priority in his adjusted, streamlined tournament calendar: “The only thing that at this moment, professionally speaking, I have in my vision is the Olympics of 2028 in Los Angeles.”
Addressing the ongoing public speculation surrounding his departure in a recent documentary, the veteran competitor rejected the premise of walking away prematurely. “Why would I talk about retirement when I still keep proving to myself that I can still win?” Djokovic insisted, maintaining that his career will proceed as long as his inner drive endures and he remains confident in his ability to battle the world’s best.
Novak Djokovic in 2026
At the moment ranked no.12, Djokovic played his last match on the 30th of August when he lost to world no.45 Mariano Navone 7-6(5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 in the 1st round of the U.S. Open (draw).
During this season Novak has managed to achieve a 14-7 win-loss record. Novak Djokovic’s most significant achievement of the current year was reaching the semifinal at the Australian Open.
