The possibility of Djokovic retiring after the 2026 Australian Open

Novak Djokovic, the 38-year-old Serbian player, is currently surrounded by rumors regarding his retirement from professional tennis after the year's opening Grand Slam.

Experts suggest that if he wins his 25th Grand Slam title in Melbourne early next year, Novak Djokovic will bid farewell to the tennis world.

Journalist Kevin Palmer from Tennis.com further analyzes that another title at the Australian Open – a tournament where Djokovic has triumphed 10 times – would be a truly perfect ending.

In the 2025 season, despite facing strong challenges from the younger generation, Nole maintained consistent form by reaching the semifinals in all four Grand Slams. His record ranks just behind champions Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, proving that he remains competitive at the highest level.

In reality, Djokovic’s biggest challenge now comes from the youthful energy of Sinner and Alcaraz. While Sinner holds the record for winning two consecutive Australian titles, Alcaraz often struggles with his performance on Melbourne’s hard courts.

Experts believe that besides his skill and experience, Djokovic can still rely on variables like the health or form fluctuations of his younger rivals to achieve his championship goal.

Among the current ATP top 10 players, Djokovic is rated higher than most of his opponents when competing in the best-of-five sets format of Grand Slams.

Although he has expressed a desire to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, after completing his trophy collection with a Gold Medal in Paris, Djokovic’s motivation to compete has shifted somewhat.

The player himself admits that endurance drives him to continue playing, but the aim of securing 25 Grand Slam titles remains the most important milestone for Nole to cement his unrivaled status before retiring from top-level tennis.

The 2026 Australian Open is scheduled to take place from January 18 to February 1 in Melbourne, with total prize money increased by 12% compared to the previous year. According to the prize structure, singles champions will receive 3.5 million USD.