Djokovic signals potential retirement while criticizing other players' attitudes toward tournament scheduling

Novak Djokovic revealed that he has cut back on his tennis participation to prioritize "important family moments," and he sharply criticized the revised ATP1000 Masters tournament structure.

This tennis icon will make his singles comeback after six weeks away by playing at the US Open—his first tournament since Wimbledon.

In the Wimbledon semifinals, Djokovic’s mobility was clearly limited, and he lost 3-6, 3-6, 4-6 to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic boasts an impressive record at the US Open: ten appearances in the men’s singles final and four titles. At the pre-tournament press conference, Djokovic stated:

“Since Wimbledon, I decided to stop competing because I want to spend more time with my family.”

“I feel I have the right and the means to choose where and which tournaments I play. Honestly, apart from the Grand Slams, I currently have no other plans to compete. So, I no longer prioritize a packed schedule like before. I’m not chasing rankings, points accumulation, or defending points anymore; I’ve stopped thinking about those things.

“What truly matters to me is: where can I find motivation and enjoyment? Where can I play that inspires me to perform at my best? Which tournaments do I genuinely want to attend? Clearly, the four Grand Slams remain the main events that motivate me the most.

“Of course, family is my top priority. For example, if I continued playing at the US Open, I might miss my daughter’s birthday on September 2nd, and I wouldn’t take that lightly. At this stage of life, being part of important family moments is just as crucial as competing on the court. These moments are ones I really don’t want to miss anymore.

“So, for me personally, being with and supporting my family is vital—they have been my constant support throughout my tennis career.”

Djokovic’s lighter tournament schedule this season is undoubtedly influenced by the expansion of the ATP1000 Masters events.

In 2025, seven of the nine ATP1000 Masters tournaments will extend their schedules to 12 days, with draws of 96 players.

Only the Monte Carlo Masters and the Paris Masters will maintain the traditional one-week format.

Djokovic has missed the last three ATP1000 Masters events (Rome, Toronto, Cincinnati) and has not won any titles at this level since his Miami Open victory in March.

Djokovic openly criticized the new ATP1000 Masters format, saying:

“Honestly, I no longer like the two-week Masters events; the schedule is just too long for me. My main focus remains on the Grand Slams, as I have said before. But I also enjoy other tournaments and want to play more. However, when I think about it, we now have 11 ‘Grand Slams’ a year—of course, this is an informal way of putting it. What I mean is, Grand Slams last two weeks, and many Masters events now last nearly two weeks as well. So, I don’t prioritize a packed schedule like before. I’m not chasing rankings, points, or defending points anymore; I’ve stopped thinking about those things.”

Djokovic has long been vocal about ATP tour matters; he served as ATP Player Council chairman before resigning in 2020. Shortly after, he helped establish the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), representing the top 500 singles and top 200 doubles players on the ATP and WTA tours. This advocacy group states its mission as: “Uniting and mobilizing tennis players to create transparency and fairness in professional tennis.”

For this reason, Djokovic specifically pointed out at the pre-tournament press conference that top players have failed to effectively oppose major changes to the tour format.

He added:

“I’ve noticed many top players oppose the near two-week extension of Masters events. I support their position. But ultimately, when players need to take action and during crucial negotiation and decision-making periods, the level of participation hasn’t been sufficient.”

Djokovic will face a strong American opponent, Learner Tien, in the first round of the US Open. Born in 2005, Tien rose to fame earlier this season by upsetting Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open and has since defeated top 10 players like Rublev, Zverev, and Shelton.

If Djokovic wins the tournament, he will claim a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. However, he may face a tough battle right from the first round.

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